Venezuela Embraces Starlink: Ban Lifted!

Starlink satellite internet service has received formal authorization to operate in Venezuela, ending a ban previously enforced under ousted president Nicolas Maduro. The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) officially granted seven operating licenses to SpaceX's Venezuelan subsidiary on Friday. This decision follows a period where an estimated 3.6 percent of internet users in Venezuela were already accessing the web through Starlink, despite the official prohibition.

Prior to this authorization, Nicolas Maduro had publicly criticized Elon Musk, whose X social media platform was also banned. US sanctions also previously hindered Starlink's operations in the country. Following Maduro's capture in January 2026, Starlink offered free service for a month to Venezuelan users and resumed free services after devastating twin earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, supporting recovery efforts in the hardest-hit area of La Guaira. The lifting of the ban signifies a new chapter for internet accessibility in Venezuela.