Elon Musk’s Starlink offers free internet access in Venezuela following U.S. airstrikes and Maduro’s arrest

Elon Musk’s Starlink is offering free broadband internet service to users in Venezuela through February 3, following U.S. airstrikes and the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. The satellite internet provider said that service credits were being added to both active and inactive accounts as it monitored evolving conditions. Starlink, a subsidiary of the aerospace company SpaceX, provides internet access via low-earth-orbit satellites and requires users to purchase separate equipment to connect to the service. While Starlink’s availability map on its website lists Venezuela as “coming soon,” the company indicated that users can access the service through a roaming plan. “While we do [not yet have] a timeline for local purchase availability, if and when there are updates, they will be communicated directly through official Starlink channels,” said the company. It remains unclear how the company’s services and pricing would evolve after February 3.