Elon Musk's Starlink to provide internet access to both Iran and U.S. school buses

The service's slowing speeds might keep them from being everywhere all at once though.
 By 
Anna Iovine
 on 
phone with black and white starlink logo
Credit: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

SpaceX's internet service provider Starlink is attempting to be everything, everywhere, all at once. Despite Starlink's slowing speeds in recent months as its popularity increases, two major new initiatives were announced this week: service in Iran and in U.S. school buses.

The first, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, is that Starlink will be activated in Iran following the U.S. government easing sanctions to provide internet access to Iranians.

This move comes after the Iran government cut off internet access amid protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini. Amini was a 22-year-old woman detained by Iran's "morality" police and died in custody days later. The resulting protests led to a government shutdown of the internet, Whatsapp, and Instagram.


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Additionally, Starlink is set to provide internet access to school buses stateside. In May, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed using funding for schools and libraries to equip buses with WiFi, according to the New York Post.

In a letter sent to the FCC this week, SpaceX implored the commission to make this move and make Starlink equipment accessible on school buses. The purpose is to help bridge the country's digital divide, or provide internet access to the millions of Americans (including children) who don't have internet access at home.

What SpaceX hasn't clarified, however, is how it will keep up internet speeds with this proposed spike in use, given that they've already slowed this year. Mashable has reached out to SpaceX for comment.

Topics SpaceX Elon Musk

anna iovine, a white woman with curly chin-length brown hair, smiles at the camera
Anna Iovine
Associate Editor, Features

Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.

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