Kuwait City: Elon Musk has announced that Starlink is now available in Kuwait, expanding the satellite-based internet network’s reach in the Middle East.
The announcement was made by Musk on the social media platform X, where he posted, “Starlink now available in Kuwait!” The official Starlink account also confirmed the rollout, sharing an image indicating that the entire country is now covered by the service.
The launch comes at a sensitive time in the region, as tensions continue between Iran and a joint front led by the United States and Israel.
Approval from Kuwait’s telecom regulator
According to information available on the Starlink website, the company received regulatory approval from the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) to begin offering its services in Kuwait.
The approval allows residents and businesses across the country to purchase Starlink hardware kits and subscribe to satellite internet plans.
The rollout is expected to improve internet connectivity in parts of the country where conventional broadband infrastructure may be limited or less reliable.
Kuwait experienced internet disruptions
Earlier this month, Kuwait experienced temporary internet disruptions, which sparked speculation about possible links to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Authorities, however, clarified that the outages were not related to the geopolitical tensions or military activity.
Officials from the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority stated that the disruptions were caused by technical issues rather than conflict-related damage to infrastructure.
Despite that clarification, the introduction of a satellite-based internet network is being seen as an additional layer of connectivity resilience in case of future disruptions.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite broadband network developed by SpaceX.
The service operates using thousands of small satellites placed in low Earth orbit. These satellites typically orbit the planet at an altitude of around 550 kilometres.
Because they are positioned much closer to Earth than traditional communication satellites, they can provide faster data transmission speeds and lower latency.
The system is designed particularly to deliver high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas where building fibre-optic or cable networks may be difficult or expensive.
Starlink has expanded rapidly over the past few years and is now available in many countries across North America, Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.
Expansion of the satellite network
Earlier this year, the company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to deploy 7,500 additional second-generation satellites.
This expansion is expected to significantly increase the capacity and performance of the Starlink network worldwide.
The company already operates thousands of satellites in orbit, making it one of the largest satellite constellations ever deployed.
The continued expansion is aimed at improving coverage, increasing data speeds and supporting more users across different regions.
Pricing and plans in Kuwait
Residents in Kuwait can now subscribe to Starlink through the company’s official website.
The residential plan is priced at approximately 31 Kuwaiti dinars per month, which is roughly equivalent to about ₹9,300.
Customers can choose between two types of hardware kits.
The mini kit costs around 92 Kuwaiti dinars, or about ₹27,600, while the standard kit is priced at 122 Kuwaiti dinars, which translates to roughly ₹36,700.
The company is also offering the first month of service free for new customers.
The kits include the satellite dish, mounting hardware and Wi-Fi equipment required to connect to the Starlink network.
Prospects for Starlink in India
While the service continues to expand globally, Starlink is still awaiting regulatory clearance to operate in India.
The company has expressed interest in launching its satellite internet services in India for several years.
At one point in December 2025, a technical glitch on the Starlink website briefly showed subscription pricing for Indian users at around ₹8,600 per month.
Following the incident, Lauren Dreyer clarified that the company was still working to secure the necessary approvals from the Indian government.
“We’re eager to connect the people of India with Starlink’s high-speed internet, and our teams are focused on obtaining final government approvals to turn service on,” she wrote on X.
Growing demand for satellite internet
The launch of Starlink in Kuwait highlights the growing global demand for satellite-based internet services.
As geopolitical tensions, natural disasters and infrastructure challenges continue to disrupt traditional communication networks in some regions, satellite internet is increasingly seen as a reliable alternative.
For countries in geopolitically sensitive regions, such services can provide backup connectivity during emergencies or infrastructure failures.
With Starlink continuing to expand its satellite constellation and enter new markets, the network is expected to play an increasingly significant role in the global internet ecosystem.