Starlink to support e-learning in hinterland regions

Starlink, the satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX and founded by Elon Musk, is poised to play a key role in expanding internet connectivity across Guyana’s hinterland and riverine communities.

Starlink has commenced operations in Guyana, promising “high-speed, low-latency” internet service.

According to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, improved internet access is critical to the government’s goal of delivering online education nationwide. He noted that, while the process has not been easy, the administration has been proactive in finding solutions to each challenge.

“We went to all four of the Hinterland regions and people were saying they would never be able to have university education because we can’t afford to come to Georgetown and UG would not be adequate. Can you bring a campus to us? And the population size in many of these regions can’t support a full campus…. So we were thinking about how do we give every child the opportunity to go to university, that is why we promised 20,000 online scholarships,” he said.

However, he explained that new challenges arose when trying to ensure Indigenous communities could access the scholarships. One of the major issues faced was limited internet availability.

He added, “How do you do online university if you don’t have internet facilities? So that is why the Prime Minister is rolling out a programme where we are putting Starlink facilities in all the Indigenous communities and hinterland communities in general… and the riverine communities in general so you can have access to the internet.”