Company founder Elon Musk posted an update on the Starlink project, under which emergency management offices in all 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico will be equipped with satellite internet.
The company will provide equipment, including satellite terminals, to create backup communication channels to be used during hurricanes and other emergencies.
The project’s main goal is to ensure that emergency services can coordinate their efforts even when mobile networks, fiber-optic lines, or other elements of ground-based infrastructure may fail.
Disasters Have Highlighted the Importance of Resilient Communications
The issue of communications resilience remains particularly relevant for regions prone to natural hazards.
For Puerto Rico, this became strikingly evident after Hurricane Maria in 2017, when the power and telecommunications infrastructure was almost completely destroyed. The island was left virtually without power or communications, which significantly hampered the work of emergency services and the restoration of normal life.
A similar problem arises after major earthquakes and other natural disasters. In such situations, having an independent communication channel becomes a key factor in the effectiveness of government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and emergency response teams.
Against this backdrop, low-Earth-orbit satellite systems are viewed as one option for enhancing the resilience of communications infrastructure, as they are less dependent on the condition of ground-based networks in a given region.
In this context, Musk’s announcement regarding the deployment of Starlink in all municipalities of Puerto Rico goes beyond the usual promotion of the company or the services it offers.
From emergency services to passenger aircraft
At the same time, Starlink is expanding the commercial applications of its technology. The company announced the launch of high-speed satellite internet on the first Iberia aircraft—an Airbus A330-300 operating a flight between Madrid and São Paulo.
Passengers in all classes of service had access to free Wi-Fi throughout the flight. Starlink aims to enable video streaming, work, and other online services even during international flights.
Iberia became the first Spanish airline to begin implementing Starlink. The installation of equipment on the company’s aircraft is set to continue through 2026. According to Starlink, connection speeds can reach up to 500 Mbps.
More Than Just Business
These two announcements from Elon Musk should not be underestimated. The development of Starlink demonstrates a shift in the role of satellite internet: the technology is gradually transitioning from a niche solution for individual users to a component of a broader communications infrastructure.
For government agencies, this presents an opportunity to establish backup communications in case of emergencies. For businesses and the transportation sector, it’s a tool for improving the reliability of digital services in areas where traditional networks are limited. For customers, it means higher-quality service and the ability to stay connected even in conditions where it was previously difficult to do so.
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