Guyana is harnessing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet to enhance connectivity in rural and hinterland regions, with Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo saying this bolster critical services such as the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) scholarship programme and telemedicine, thereby improving access to education and healthcare for remote communities.
“We were thinking about how do we give every child an opportunity to go to University in Guyana and that is why we came up with the model…The Prime Minister is rolling out a programme where are putting Starlink facilities in all the indigenous communities, hinterland communities generally and all the riverine communities of the country.
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo (Photo: News Room/ Vishani Ragobeer/ October 24, 2024)
“So you can have access to internet,” Dr Jagdeo said.
Government has approved Starlink’s licence to operate.
“We are solving this issue by putting in the Starlink,” Jagdeo said.
The rollout of Starlink has already yielded tangible benefits.
In Moruca, Region One, the government launched a project providing free high-speed internet to 138 communities.
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This connectivity supports online education through the GOAL programme and enables life-saving telemedicine services, reducing the need for residents to travel to the Essequibo Coast and further.
“The Starlink initiative promises improved living standards as Guyana leverages technology to diversify its economy and empower its citizens,” the office of the Prime Minister had stated.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, while in Region Nine late last year, announced plans to connect approximately 300 health facilities across Guyana to Starlink by June 2025.
Currently, over 50 telemedicine sites are operational with Starlink, with expectations to expand to 85 by year-end and exceed 100 by 2025.
This expansion will allow healthcare professionals in remote areas to consult with specialists in urban centers, enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes.
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