International
Starlink in Brazil: Elon Musk promises free satellite internet until the country recovers from floods
Elon Musk announced this Thursday, May 9, that, in response to the floods in Brazil, he will donate a thousand internet satellite communication terminals to the emergency services in that country through its Starlink satellite network.
Elon Musk donates a thousand satellite internet terminals to Brazil due to flooding. (Free Press Photo: EFE)
“I hope the best for Brazilians,” Musk said on the social network X. “Given the terrible floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Starlink will donate a thousand terminals to emergency services.”
In addition to donating the equipment, the company will provide free use of all terminals in the region until flood recovery is complete.
Starlink is a constellation of more than 6,000 small satellites operated by Starlink Services, a subsidiary of the SpaceX firm that provides communications coverage in more than 75 countries.
The storms and rains that began in Brazil a few weeks ago have left at least a hundred dead and 1.5 million homeless, many of whom are waiting to be removed from the most affected areas in southern Brazil.
According to authorities, there are 129 missing and 372 injured in the state of Río Grande do Sul, where 80% of the municipalities are totally or partially under water and some 230,500 people have had to leave their homes.
Given the terrible flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, @Starlink will donate 1000 terminals to emergency responders and make usage for all terminals in the region free until the region has recovered.
I hope the best for the people of Brazil. pic.twitter.com/NK6kjz7Iag
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2024
Thousands of homes and infrastructure, such as bridges or roads, were also destroyed, and the Porto Alegre airport has become an immense lagoon, which has forced it to completely interrupt its operations until the end of this month.
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