The government of Mongolia announced on Friday that it has issued two licenses to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, allowing the company to operate as an internet service provider using its low-orbit Starlink satellites. This move is expected to provide millions of Mongolian internet users with access to high-speed connectivity, reports Reuters.
Starlink, a satellite communications service operated by SpaceX, has rapidly expanded its network, now boasting over 3,500 satellites in low-Earth orbit. This network is particularly beneficial for providing internet connectivity in remote areas.
SpaceX continues to launch Starlink satellites to orbit at a rapid pace, with a launch taking place yesterday and the next one pegged for Sunday.
Uchral Nyam-Osor, Mongolia’s Minister for Digital Development and Communications, highlighted the potential of this technology. “While our existing network of fibre optic cables already provides extensive access to high-speed internet across Mongolia, Starlink will extend this reach to more challenging areas,” he said. “This will enable herders, farmers, businesses, and miners working across our vast country to access and use global information to enhance their lives.”
The formal collaboration between the Mongolian government and SpaceX was initiated in February at the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. In a recent virtual meeting, Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene and Musk, the CEO of Tesla, discussed potential investment and cooperation in the electric vehicle sector.
Mongolia, rich in resources, possesses extensive deposits of rare earth minerals and copper, both of which are crucial materials in the electric vehicle supply chain.
