Elon Musk says Starlink offers free internet to Venezuela ‘in support of the people’

WASHINGTON, DC: Following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, Elon Musk announced that Starlink would offer free satellite internet service to Venezuela through February 3.

The move was positioned as an effort to help maintain communication access for Venezuelan during a volatile political transition marked by widespread power and internet outages, particularly in Caracas.

“In support of the people of Venezuela 🇻🇪,” Musk wrote in a post on X on Sunday, January 4, sharing a link to Starlink’s service update.

Elon Musk’s Starlink provides internet access during Venezuela crisis

SpaceX’s satellite internet service stepped in to provide free broadband connectivity across Venezuela through early February, aiming to keep residents connected as the country faces political uncertainty and infrastructure disruptions.

Musk highlighted the initiative on X, stating that the temporary service credits were intended to support civilians affected by instability and communication blackouts.

According to Starlink’s official website, the company automatically applied service credits to both active and inactive accounts across the country.

“For active customers: No action is needed. Free service credits are being proactively applied to your account,” the company stated.

“For inactive customers: If you have paused service or became inactive due to payment status, free service credits are being proactively applied to your account, allowing you to reactivate service during this period,” the statement added.

Starlink confirmed that the credits were issued after reports of widespread internet and electricity outages in Caracas and surrounding regions, raising concerns about access to news, emergency services, and communication tools during the unfolding crisis.

The announcement followed Musk’s earlier comments expressing optimism about Venezuela’s future after the arrest of the longtime leader.

“Long overdue prosperity is coming for the people of Venezuela,” Musk wrote in a separate post on January 3. 

Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores scheduled for New York court appearance

As efforts were made to stabilize civilian communications, legal proceedings against Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were set to begin in the United States.

Following their extraction from Caracas, the couple was scheduled to appear before a federal judge in New York on Monday, January 5. US authorities have said the case involves multiple federal charges, including weapons-related offenses and alleged involvement in illegal substance trafficking networks.

The court appearance marked the first time Maduro would formally face the American judicial system following the high-risk military operation that led to his arrest over the weekend.

US officials have described the investigation as one that had been ongoing for several years and tied to broader efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks operating out of Venezuela.

US prosecutors outline allegations involving Cilia Flores

In court filings, federal prosecutors also alleged that Cilia Flores played a direct role in facilitating elements of her husband’s alleged criminal operations.

The indictment claimed that Flores helped arrange a meeting between an illegal substance transporter and Nestor Reverol Torres, the former head of Venezuela’s anti-drug office, to coordinate the acceptance of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

According to prosecutors, the transporter allegedly agreed to payments of $100,000 per flight to move illegal shipments through Venezuelan airspace.

Both Maduro and Flores were expected to enter initial pleas during the New York proceedings, as the case continued to draw international attention amid Venezuela’s rapidly shifting political landscape.