(Austin, Texas)

Starlink can reach more people because their satellites can be space laser enabled. This means they use ISLs (Optical Intersatellite Links). These laser links allow communication to the most remote communities on Earth without local ground stations. This opens doors for people. Some have said this may lead to the discovery of future talents similar to Elon Musk. 

In all cases, data speeds are remarkable and in this article, I will share 4 examples of how Starlink’s phenomenal work is helping and healing communities. 

ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛᴇꜱʏ ꜱᴛᴀʀʟɪɴᴋ, ɪɴᴄ.

RURAL MEXICO

In Mexico, half of the rural population did not have internet access in 2022. Starlink is helping connect 3,300 of these communities as part of “Internet para Todos.” This translates as “Internet for All,” and means that kids growing up today in these regions will live a live very different from their elders. Opening doors to education is a big part of what Starlink makes possible. 

ꜱᴛᴀʀʟɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ʀᴜʀᴀʟ ᴍᴇxɪᴄᴏ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛᴇꜱʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴀ ᴛᴏᴅᴏꜱ

STUDENTS AND STARLINK

In Honduras, students at “Rubén Martínez Rodas” school in Montaña de la Flor will have free Starlink so they can access education better. Hondutel is a nonprofit set up to install Starlink at this remote location. 

Fifty schools across Rwanda in Africa are connected with Starlink’s high-speed internet serving hundreds of young students. Likewise, across Mozambique, Starlink is supporting educational opportunities in rural regions.

Students in the most remote schools in the Amazon forest can access the internet in a project with Polaris Space Program and Instituto Escola Conectada.

In remote Marbial in Haiti (population 2,500 people), Starlink is connecting students and teachers at schools, after-school centers, and health clinics. It is Marbial’s first time having any internet connection.

FARMERS

In Australia, some farmers use Starlink Roam for in-motion use to access technology for grain sowing. One creative farmer in NW Victoria straps Starlink satellite internet kits to his tractors while sowing and working their way around the 18,000-hectare farmland putting in the next years grain crop, essentially providing a Wi-Fi bubble around farm machinery.

ᴀᴜꜱᴛʀᴀʟɪᴀɴ ꜰᴀʀᴍᴇʀꜱ ꜱᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɢʀᴀɪɴ ᴄʀᴏᴘ. ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛᴇꜱʏ ​​ᴋᴇʟʟʏ ʜᴏʟʟɪɴɢꜱᴡᴏʀᴛʜ

ALASKA AND STARLINK

In June 2023, Alaskans living in rural Utqiaġvik, Point Hope, Wainwright, Kotzebue, and Nome, were suddenly without internet or cellular connectivity. Their fiber cable snapped due to a severe ice scouring event under the Arctic Ocean. The amazing Starlink team has been coordinating with the State of Alaska, various local governments & Native communities to help provide connectivity. 

ʀᴜʀᴀʟ ᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴛᴀʀʟɪɴᴋ ʀᴏᴀᴍ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛᴇꜱʏ ꜱᴛᴀʀʟɪɴᴋ, ɪɴᴄ.

Starlink, in the words of Elon Musk, provides “great connectivity to those who had little or nothing before. As soon as you can access the internet, you can learn about almost anything, so its absolutely essential for education. Khan Academy being a great example.”

Starlink fills in the gaps between 5G and fiber and it reaches the parts of Earth that are the hardest to reach. Starlink is a force for good in a world that is hungry for knowledge and yearning to reach for the stars!

If you liked this article, follow author Gail Alfar on X at x.com/GailAlfarATX