Starlink, the satellite Internet service developed by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX, has been made available across the White House grounds. The system involves Starlink terminals, which are rectangular panels designed to capture Internet signals from satellites in low-Earth orbit. Rather than being directly installed on the White House grounds, the service is reportedly transmitted through a data center using existing fiber optic cables miles from the campus.
White House officials explained that this move aims to bolster Internet access throughout the property. There have been challenges with cellular connectivity in some areas, and the existing Wi-Fi system has been overburdened. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, noted that the goal is “to improve Wi-Fi connectivity on the complex.”
This situation is unique due to the dual role of Musk, who functions as an unpaid special government employee while maintaining leadership over Starlink and other entities with federal contracts and regulatory interests.
Musk has previously deployed Starlink to help the Ukrainians in their conflict against Russia and to help those affected by the devastating hurricanes that occurred last year in North Carolina—despite efforts from the former Biden regime to disrupt the distribution of Starlink terminals.
