Exclusive: Facing Hurricane Melissa, State Department turns to Elon Musk’s Starlink in Jamaica

The State Department is pre-provisioning Starlink in Jamaica to maintain communication during Hurricane Melissa. Starshield, a more secure version of Starlink, will likely be used at the embassy for national-security applications. Consumer Starlink may be used by smaller teams traveling within Jamaica. This highlights the increasing importance of satellite internet during natural disasters where traditional services fail. The U.S. government is increasingly reliant on SpaceX technology, including rocket launches and satellite internet. Agencies like the National Science Foundation and Department of Homeland Security also utilize Starlink. SpaceX also provides free Starlink service in Jamaica and the Bahamas until the end of November due to the hurricane. Concerns exist regarding the U.S. government's dependence on SpaceX and Elon Musk's influence. An instance earlier this year involved Musk limiting Ukrainian forces' Starlink access. The relationship between Starlink and Starshield has been unclear, with outages affecting both.