Elon Musk’s SpaceX offers free Starlink in Iran amid Internet Blackout

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is giving free Starlink satellite service in Iran, reports Bloomberg. It quotes Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the US group Holistic Resilience who said that the company has waived the Starlink subscription fee in the country hit with days-long internet blackout. This means that Iranians with Starlink receivers can access internet service without paying. Notably, Starlink is yet to officially confirm the same.


This comes days after US President Donald Trump said that he will talk to Elon Musk to use Starlink to help people in Iran. When asked by a reporter last week if he plans to use Starlink to help people in the country, Trump replied: “We may speak to Elon because, as you know, he's very good at that kind of thing. He's got a very good company, so we may speak to Elon Musk




Ahmadian told Bloomberg that while Starlink receivers are prohibited in Iran, many have been smuggled across the nation's borders. He estimated that there are more than 50,000 units available in the country.

Starlink’s free internet service in Venezuela

Starlink's service in Iran and in other regions facing conflict underscores how the fast-growing internet service has become a tool of soft power for the world's richest person and the US government, the Bloomberg report says. Earlier this month, Starlink announced to offer free internet service in Venezuela till February 3, 2026.


The announcement was made after the United States launched a swift overnight military operation against Venezuela on January 3, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife First Lady Cilia Flores. Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), the company wrote: “Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity.” Quoting Starlink’s post, Elon Musk wrote “In support of the people of Venezuela”.