Elon Musk’s SpaceX has received two licences from Mongolia to use low-orbit satellites to deliver internet connectivity, the ministry announced on Friday.
According to a statement from the government, Starlink, a satellite communications service run by SpaceX, will allow millions of internet users in Mongolia access to high-speed connections.
With more than 3,500 satellites in low-Earth orbit, Starlink has established a rapidly expanding network that can offer connectivity in far-off places.
“A network of fibre optic cables already provides wide-reaching access to high-speed internet across Mongolia but this technology will provide greater access to hard-to-reach areas,” Minister for Digital Development and Communications, Uchral Nyam-Osor said.
“Herders, farmers, businesses and miners living and working across our vast country will be able to access and use information from all over the world to improve their lives.”
During the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the Mongolian government and SpaceX officially began working together in February.
Resource-rich Copper and rare earth minerals, which are essential components of the supply chain for electric vehicles, are found in large quantities in Mongolia.
