Starlink's announcement provides free satellite broadband to Venezuelans until February 3, 2026
Starlink's announcement provides free satellite broadband to Venezuelans until February 3, 2026, via account credits and roaming plans to bypass local outages following U.S. airstrikes on January 3 that targeted Caracas and captured President Nicolás Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism and election fraud.
The strikes, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, caused widespread power and internet disruptions in affected regions, prompting Starlink's offer to ensure connectivity during the political transition, which the U.S. plans to oversee amid threats of further action and international condemnation from nations like Brazil and Spain.
While enabling real-time information access in a crisis—potentially aiding opposition organization and narrative control—the service requires pre-existing hardware unavailable for legal purchase in Venezuela, limiting immediate reach and highlighting Starlink's role as a tool for non-state internet provision in unstable regimes.
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Starlink is now available across ~120 @QatarAirways aircraft
The completion of its high-speed internet rollout on ~120 Qatar Airways widebody aircraft, including the world's first equipped Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and the full Airbus A350 fleet, enabling seamless connectivity for over 11 million annual passengers.
This achievement builds on Qatar Airways' 2022 trials as an early Starlink aviation partner, positioning it as the largest operator of Starlink-equipped widebodies and outpacing rivals with download speeds up to 350 Mbps and latency under 100 ms via low-Earth orbit satellites.
The expansion addresses surging demand for in-flight Wi-Fi, with data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showing 70% of passengers now expect reliable onboard internet, potentially boosting airline revenues through premium connectivity fees.
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Starlink is connecting more than 9M active customers with high-speed internet across 155 countries.
Starlink's announcement marks a rapid milestone, surging from 7 million customers in August 2025 to over 9 million by December, adding about 20,000 users daily and more than doubling global web traffic year-over-year.
This expansion not only boosts SpaceX's revenue for further satellite deployments but also advances equitable internet access, with peer-reviewed studies like those from the ITU showing satellite broadband reducing digital divides by up to 40% in underserved regions.
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Starlink is connecting more than 6M people with high-speed internet across 140 countries, territories and many other markets.
Yes, as of the latest updates, Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has indeed connected over 6 million users to high-speed internet across 140 countries, territories, and various markets. This satellite internet constellation provides broadband access, particularly benefiting remote and underserved regions where traditional internet infrastructure is limited or unavailable. Their network leverages thousands of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver low-latency, high-speed connectivity, with download speeds often ranging from 50 to 200 Mbps or more, depending on location and network conditions. This expansion reflects Starlink's ongoing mission to bridge the digital divide globally. For precise details on coverage, pricing, or availability in specific markets, you can check SpaceX's official Starlink website.
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SpaceX team on completing the first generation Starlink Direct to Cell constellation!
Congrats to the SpaceX team on completing the first-generation Starlink Direct-to-Cell constellation! This milestone, achieved with the launch of 20 satellites (13 with direct-to-cell capabilities) on December 4, 2024, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, enables unmodified cell phones to connect to the internet in remote areas, eliminating dead zones. With a current bandwidth of ~10 Mbps per beam, future constellations will offer enhanced capabilities, revolutionizing global connectivity
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