SpaceX operates the world's largest broadband satellite constellation. The company launches internet-beaming Starlink satellites to Low Earth Orbit atop flight-proven Falcon 9 rockets on a weekly basis. Since 2019, it has launched a total of 3,399 satellites that provide internet service to over half-a-million users living across 44 countries located in all seven continents. See Starlink Coverage Map
SpaceX is steadily expanding Starlink service coverage across the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic was the first Caribbean country to have Starlink access to the Starlink satellite constellation in July this year, followed by Puerto Rico. In September, Starlink became available in the French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. On Monday, October 24, SpaceX announced Starlink Internet service is now available in Jamaica.
Starlink is now available in Jamaica → https://t.co/slZbTmHdml
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 24, 2022
The announcement comes after Jamaica's Technology Minister Daryl Vaz shared that SpaceX's Starlink applied for a telecommunications license to begin operations around two weeks ago. They approved Starlink very rapidly to provide people with an alternative option for home and business internet service. There is two major telecom providers that operate in Jamaica called "Flow" and "Digicel'' which provide internet, phone, and digital TV cable services through fibre-optic connections. Around 40% of the Jamaican population lacks access to reliable high-speed internet at home in rural regions. The Starlink network will be beneficial to the under-served rural and remote regions across the Island because SpaceX’s satellites will beam data directly to user Starlink antennas. Fiber-optic cable infrastructures are difficult and expensive to build in rural areas where population is scarce. Vaz says Starlink will be a "game-changer" in rural communities across Jamaica. To date, SpaceX operates approximately 3,300 Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit.
Featured Image Source: NASA
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
