top line
Elon Musk's SpaceX is nearing a deal to provide Starlink satellite internet to Yemen, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The deal could dramatically boost connectivity in the war-torn country, where millions have suffered after years of bloody civil war and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It continues to disrupt world trade by attacking ships in the Red Sea.
Starlink satellite on the roof of a house in New Mexico.
important facts
A senior government official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations, said the Yemeni government is currently finalizing a license agreement with Starlink's parent company, SpaceX.
The deal, which gives access to Starlink's extensive satellite network that orbits the Earth and beams high-speed internet to the surface, could still take about a month to complete, Yemeni officials said. said.
If this agreement is reached, Yemen's connectivity environment could change completely. Yemen has been ravaged by years of brutal civil war, which has resulted in the country ranking among the worst in the world in terms of internet access, speed, and censorship.
It also means Yemen's Saudi-backed and U.N.-recognized government, which controls much of the country and has exploited its control of communications networks to solidify its position and stifle dissent, is at a loss for the Houthi rebels. It would mean a victory for the rebels, who have been fighting against the government for many years.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to Forbes' request for comment.
But isn't Starlink already operating in Yemen?
The agreement makes Yemen one of the few countries in the Middle East officially authorized to use Starlink's satellite network, joining the likes of Israel and Jordan. However, “officially” is an important modifier here. A series of studies, reports and comments from various government officials and lawmakers, including in the United States, have revealed a vast black market for Starlink technology. This includes use by criminal and military groups that are many enemies of the United States in areas such as Sudan, South Africa, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Russian-occupied Ukraine, and Yemen, without having a license to operate. Internet service was reportedly available. . SpaceX has previously vowed to investigate and “take steps to disable” devices used by unauthorized or internationally sanctioned entities.
Main background
Starlink satellites based in orbit would be a much harder target for Yemen's Houthi rebels than other critical communications infrastructure. This highlights the growing power of non-state groups like Starlink in areas traditionally dominated by states, and in recent years Mr. It has come under diplomatic fire over the conflict. Starlink's service, which leverages the world's largest constellation of private satellites, is available commercially in some countries, including the United States, and Musk hopes to one day offer it globally and expand it to include cell phone service. Its ability to transmit data from orbit overcomes many of the obstacles imposed by geography and infrastructure that mobile phone and internet services typically face. Although speeds can be significantly slower than traditional online connectivity methods, the service compensates for connection dead zones and can provide service in remote locations where traditional power sources cannot accommodate.
tangent
Houthi militants have disrupted global trade in recent months, dramatically escalating tensions in the region by attacking trading ships in the Red Sea and undersea waterways that carry global internet and communications services. It is believed that cables were also targeted. The insurgents denied cutting the vital fiber-optic cables that carry much of the world's internet traffic, but continued to attack ships in solidarity with Gaza residents.
Forbes rating
Mr. Musk is worth an estimated $199.6 billion. He is the second richest person on the planet after LVMH's Bernard Arnault and recently surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. A significant portion of Mr. Musk's wealth and social influence comes from the companies he co-founded and leads, including Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and social media companies. It comes from companies like the ambitious Everything app X, which Mr. Musk acquired as Twitter. 2022.
References
Musk's Starlink closes in on Yemeni license, officials say (Bloomberg)
Elon Musk's Starlink device falls into the wrong hands (Bloomberg)
