Venezuela's national telecom regulator Conatel has granted Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, a general license to operate nationwide. The authorization follows successful trials after a major earthquake damaged terrestrial networks and comes with seven Ku-band spectrum concessions for SpaceX's local entity.
The expansion of Starlink's service into Venezuela provides a crucial alternative for internet connectivity, particularly in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is unreliable or damaged, potentially impacting economic activity and access to information.
Venezuela's national telecom regulator Conatel announced on Friday that it has legally authorized Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to operate across the country. The decision grants SpaceX's local entity, SPACEX VZ, S.C.A., a general license and seven Ku-band spectrum concessions.
The authorization permits the provision of Starlink-brand satellite internet service throughout Venezuela under formal operation with a local domicile and regulatory oversight. Conatel stated that the approval follows work that began after a major earthquake on June 24, 2026, which severely damaged terrestrial phone and internet networks in the coastal state of La Guaira. At that time, Starlink received temporary permits to test its equipment, including Direct to Device messaging and Ku-band service for emergency demand.
After in-person and remote working sessions on Venezuelan telecom rules, SpaceX submitted a formal application. Starlink had already established a presence in the country prior to this permanent license, having offered free broadband for a limited period during a past political upheaval and conducting trials after the June earthquake. Conatel has not yet specified when residential or business signups will commence, the pricing of plans, or whether existing equipment can be activated under the new license.
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