Elon Musk’s Starlink announced Sunday it’s providing free broadband service to Venezuela through February 3, offering connectivity as the country faces massive political upheaval following the US removal of President Nicolás Maduro.
The service activates automatically for existing Starlink customers in Venezuela, as active users will see credits applied to their accounts without needing to do anything, while inactive subscribers who paused service or lapsed due to payment issues can reactivate during this period.
For Venezuelans who already own a Starlink kit, the company says they can select a Roam plan to get online immediately.
In simple terms, Starlink is crediting accounts rather than requiring any new setup or hardware distribution. Users can check their billing section to see the applied credits.
The company stated it’s currently focused on enabling connectivity for people who already have equipment, though it’s monitoring “evolving conditions and regulatory requirements” for potential local hardware sales down the line.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume presidential powers after Maduro’s removal, citing a “material and temporary impossibility” for him to perform his duties.
READ: Someone Made KES 53 Million Betting on Maduro’s Capture Hours Before It Happened
President Trump indicated the US will oversee Venezuela’s transition, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly in contact with Rodriguez.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton revealed that plans to oust Maduro were actually presented to Trump during his first term but never progressed because officials couldn’t maintain Trump’s focus on the issue.
Starlink hasn’t specified what happens after February 3 or whether the free service period might extend. The company says any updates will come through official Starlink channels.
