Elon Musk and Starlink's humanitarian efforts continue as the company has pledged that it is extending free access to Hurricane Helene victims via its satellite internet in partnership with the Biden Administration. It will center its free Starlink service by sending over 500 satellite internet kits to the Appalachia mountain region which has been among the most devastated by the catastrophe.
The pledge from Elon Musk is reminiscent of their previous sharing of Starlink's satellite internet access to war-torn areas like Ukraine and Gaza, offering free use of its renowned technology.
Starlink Offers Free Internet Access to Hurricane Helene Victims
While Elon Musk may be making noise in controversial matters on X, the tech CEO recently announced that it is making Starlink's satellite internet service available for free in "disaster zones" affected by Hurricane Helene. The recent natural catastrophe has brought significant damage to the Appalachia region and left massive casualties and injuries, apart from structural damages.
This was initially requested by a user on X who has been using his own money to set up satellite internet access using Starlink kits to share among the devastated areas but claimed he has been facing challenges in setting them up.
Musk and Starlink finally answered this call for help in the devastated region, assisting those who have been struck by the recent disaster.
We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024
Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest. https://t.co/RcSwU54DtL
Starlink Partners with Biden Administration for Free Internet
It was revealed by a press release that FEMA has collaborated with Starlink to provide these satellite internet kits to North Carolina, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee, and for "critical lifeline locations."
Starlink's partnership with the Biden Administration would share satellite internet access to the disaster zones without asking for any payments in 30 days. It is now a critical lifeline in these areas for contacting help, sharing updates, and more.
Starlink's Humanitarian Efforts for the World
It is widely known that SpaceX's Starlink has positioned itself to be an internet service that is widely accessible anywhere, and one of its main goals is to service areas that cannot be reached by terrestrial connections. During the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Starlink was among the many tech companies that aided the European country with its service, with Musk receiving thanks from the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister for their help.
However, there came a time when Elon Musk said that it could no longer sustain the free satellite internet service it offers Ukraine and asked the United States government to fund its operations over at the European country.
The long-conflicted nations of Israel and Palestine also erupted into war and left their citizens in danger, without the capabilities to contact authorities for help as telecommunications facilities were also affected. With this, Musk sent over Starlink kits to Gaza via organizations that are helping people in the conflict zone, sharing yet again its satellite internet amidst the war.
Moreover, it is also known that Starlink is now supplying its satellite internet to organizations that are looking to share internet connections to far-flung areas in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and more. While Musk's Starlink is available as a paid service, global and national events like this see the company sharing its technology to bring aid to users without a price.
