The skies above Yerevan might soon host more than just stars as Elon Musk’s Starlink is set to start operating in Armenia after receiving a license from the country’s regulatory body.
Starlink’s satellite-based service could be a transformative force in Armenia’s regions, where high-speed broadband remains a distant dream, Craig S. Smith writes in an article published by Forbes.
The Armenian Public Services Regulatory Commission on Friday approved applications by STARLINK AM LLC for an exploitation license to operate a public electronic communication network and a permit to use radio frequencies.
“One of the most significant aspects of Starlink’s arrival is its potential impact on rural and underserved areas. Armenia’s mountainous geography has long been an obstacle to consistent internet connectivity. In regions where high-speed broadband remains a distant dream, Starlink’s satellite-based service could be a transformative force. With high-speed, reliable internet, rural communities will have unprecedented access to online education, telemedicine, and digital commerce – opportunities that were once limited to urban centers,” the author says.
Besides, he says, Starlink would ensure Armenia’s internet connectivity during conflicts with its neighbors, particularly Azerbaijan, with which it has had military tensions, especially over Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to Forbes, Starlink’s arrival offers Armenia a tool to enhance its independence, both digitally and economically.
“Will Armenia fully embrace this opportunity and navigate the complexities that come with it? The journey is underway, and with recent regulatory approvals and the commencement of testing, the timeline for Starlink’s operational launch in Armenia is accelerating. The skies above Yerevan might soon host more than just stars; they could be the new arteries of connectivity linking a nation—from its remotest villages to the bustling streets of the capital—to the boundless expanse of the digital world,” Craig S. Smith writes.
