SpaceX offers free Starlink in Venezuela after Maduro arrest
Due to US sanctions, Starlink was not legally usable in Venezuela until now. After the president's arrest by the US military, the service is free.
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As "support for the people" after the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro by the US military, SpaceX will not charge for the use of Starlink satellite internet in Venezuela for one month. The US space company announced this weekend and assured that active customers would not have to do anything. Those who own an antenna but have canceled the service for cost reasons can reactivate it free of charge. Both will be valid until February 3, according to SpaceX. However, it is unclear how many people can benefit from this at all, because the satellite internet is not officially available in the country. SpaceX admits that the necessary antennas cannot be bought there.
US attack on Caracas and surrounding area
Maduro was arrested on Saturday by the US military in the Venezuelan capital Caracas and taken to New York. Part of the action, which violated international law, included attacks on various targets in and around Caracas, resulting in dozens of deaths according to authorities, reports the New York Times. According to the opposition and international observers, Maduro had lost the presidential election a year and a half ago against opposition politician Edmundo González Urrutia, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud. The US and a number of Latin American states no longer recognize Maduro as the legitimate head of state.
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Starlink from SpaceX has been available since 2019, with more than 9,400 active satellites providing fast internet connections on all continents. However, for people to be able to book the service, it must be approved according to national law. This has not happened in Venezuela. On the contrary, strict US sanctions were intended to prevent the use of the service there. Nevertheless, the necessary antennas were sold freely there, openly advertised, and widely praised, it was reported almost two years ago. The provider's availability map lists the country as not yet supported. Starlink is to become available there "soon". The company has not disclosed how many people have used Starlink there and how much money SpaceX has charged for it.
(mho)
