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SpaceX has announced that it will provide free access to its Starlink broadband internet service for the remainder of 2024 in areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This initiative aims to support recovery efforts and ease the hardships caused by the devastating storms.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in northwest Florida on September 26. Just weeks later, Hurricane Milton followed on October 9, striking the west-central Gulf Coast of Florida as a Category 3 storm. Both hurricanes triggered catastrophic flooding, widespread power outages, and communication breakdowns across multiple regions.
In response, SpaceX has distributed over 10,000 Starlink kits to the affected areas. These kits include the necessary hardware to access Starlink’s high-speed internet service, which will be free of charge for the remainder of the year. Typically, the monthly fee for Starlink is $120, but SpaceX has waived this fee to assist communities struggling with the aftermath of the storms.
The Free Starlink service is available to both new and existing customers in impacted regions across Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In addition to offering free internet access, SpaceX has partnered with T-Mobile to enable basic SMS messaging services. This allows users in hurricane-affected areas to stay in touch with friends and family, send messages to emergency services, and receive critical alerts, even if cell networks are down.
Since launching its first batch of satellites in 2019, SpaceX has steadily expanded the Starlink network, which now comprises over 6,000 operational satellites in low Earth orbit, providing global broadband internet coverage.
Originally, SpaceX had planned to offer 30 days of free service to the regions hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. However, the added destruction caused by Hurricane Milton led the company to extend the free service through the end of the year. This decision ensures that those affected can maintain essential connectivity during the ongoing recovery period.
This free Starlink internet service will provide a crucial lifeline for hurricane victims, helping them stay connected as they rebuild and recover.
