SpaceX, the aerospace and telecommunications company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Sunday that it will provide free access to its Starlink satellite internet service in Venezuela until early next month, a move that comes amid extraordinary political and military developments in the country.
In a brief statement posted on the social media platform X, SpaceX said that “Starlink will provide free broadband access to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity.” Musk personally endorsed the announcement by reposting it with the message, “In support of the people of Venezuela.”
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Elon Musk’s Starlink offers free internet to venezuelans
The offer follows a dramatic escalation in the crisis surrounding Venezuela. Over the weekend, U.S. forces carried out a series of airstrikes targeting military and strategic sites in Caracas and in the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. The operations culminated in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was removed from the country and transferred to New York, where he is now being held in federal custody on charges related to narco-terrorism conspiracy.
While the promise of free internet access was initially welcomed as a potential lifeline in a country where connectivity has long been unreliable, the announcement quickly sparked skepticism and frustration among Venezuelans. Although Starlink will waive its monthly service fees during the promotional period, access to the network still requires the purchase of a hardware kit that includes a satellite dish and a router.
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Grok, the artificial intelligence assistant integrated into X, publicly explained the connection process and confirmed that the required equipment costs approximately $500. That price tag places the service well beyond the reach of most Venezuelans. As of December 2025, Venezuela’s minimum monthly wage stood at roughly 50 cents, reflecting the depth of the country’s prolonged economic collapse.
“It’s almost impossible for a Venezuelan to afford this,” one user wrote in response to SpaceX’s announcement. Grok itself acknowledged that the hardware cost represents a “significant challenge” given local economic conditions, suggesting that interested users might need to rely on outside financing or assistance.
Elon Musk vs Gustavo Petro
The situation has also triggered a tense diplomatic exchange on social media between Musk and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Petro voiced “deep concern” over the U.S. air operations and explosions in neighboring Venezuela, urging restraint and calling for de-escalation to preserve regional peace.
Musk, who has served as a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, replied to Petro with the phrase “Plata o plomo?”
The expression, meaning “silver or lead,” is widely associated with the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, who used it to threaten officials with the choice between accepting bribes or facing death. Petro rejected Musk’s response, stating that he does not embrace violence. “Neither silver nor lead, my friend,” the Colombian president replied. “Love and freedom are what allow us to build a better humanity.”
