Elon Musk uses the Starlink satellite network to dominate the Amazon and gold prospectors
Tycoon with his Starlink network, Elon Musk has quickly taken over the Brazilian Amazon’s satellite internet business.
With his Starlink network, Elon Musk has quickly taken over the Brazilian Amazon‘s satellite internet industry. Starlink is becoming more and more popular among the people living in the world’s largest rainforest, including gold prospectors operating covertly.
After receiving approval from Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) in January 2022, SpaceX’s system has gained a 44.4% market share in the Amazon in just two years, surpassing Hughes’ 31.4% share.
A third of Brazil’s Starlink users (36,950 out of 114,925 as of October of last year) are from the Amazon region. In this nation, even the Navy has given in to the broadband of one of the richest men in the world.
Anatel gave him their support in January 2022, and in May of the same year, Musk went to a posh hotel in São Paulo to meet with the then-prime minister Bolsonaro.
The eccentric millionaire claimed at the time that his satellite network would «monitor» deforestation while connecting thousands of rural schools.
However, Starlink has also gained the support of occultist gold prospectors. The seizure of Starlink’s white antennas during operations against unauthorized mining is becoming more frequent.
This year, SpaceX went so far as to bid the equipment for 1,000 reais (about $205) with a monthly connection fee of 184 reais (about $40 at today’s exchange rate), excluding shipping costs.
