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Starlink, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Wednesday the start of providing satellite internet service in Yemen.
Starlink available in Yemen! https://t.co/JC1abSA6F8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2024
According to the legitimate government, it aims to secure military communications similar to the Ukrainian experience, in addition to opening electronic windows for distance education and enabling students in areas controlled by the Houthi militia to join regular education.
The US embassy congratulated Yemen on the move, describing it as an “achievement.”
“Congratulations to Yemen for being the first country in the Middle East to have full access to Starlink satellite internet,” she tweeted on Wednesday evening. “This achievement demonstrates how technology can open up new opportunities and drive progress.”
Wael Tarmoum, CEO of the Saudi government’s General Telecommunications Corporation, said that the Starlink (satellite internet) service was officially introduced on Wednesday.
Reuters quoted Tarmoum as saying, “This step comes after the Communications Corporation and Starlink completed all legal procedures (…) and signed the service licensing agreement in early January, so that the Communications Corporation becomes an authorized agent for Starlink in Yemeni territory.”
The Starlink project of Musk’s SpaceX aims to provide internet service via satellite to remote areas or areas that suffer from weak traditional communications infrastructure, making Yemen one of the most prominent beneficiaries in light of the current situation.
A senior official in the Yemeni Ministry of Communications and Information Technology told Reuters that the service will be offered at a 50% discount.
