Mongolian authorities have approved two special licenses for SpaceX. Elon Musk’s company will operate in this Asian country “as a telecommunications service provider using Starlink low-orbit satellites.” Thanks to an agreement between the government of Ulaanbaatar and SpaceX, millions of internet users in Mongolia will get access to high-speed internet connection via Starlink, a satellite communications service operated by SpaceX.
As of today, Starlink has built a network of more than 3,500 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide connectivity to the Net even in the most remote regions of Earth.
In recent years, a fiber optic cable network has been built in Mongolia, providing high speed access to the Net, but only in large urban centers, primarily in the capital Ulaanbaatar. The launch of Starlink technology in the country will allow users living in hard-to-reach areas to get online. Mongolian Minister of Digital Development and Communications Uchral Nyam-Osor said the deal with SpaceX represents a big step forward in the rollout of the Internet in the country. “Shepherds, farmers, businesses, and miners who live and work in remote areas of our big country will finally get access to the Internet and will be able to use information from all over the world to improve their lives,” Nyam-Osor told Reuters.
The official cooperation between the government of Mongolia and SpaceX was initiated in February last year in Barcelona, on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2023. Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene recently discussed future cooperation with Elon Musk on developing not only telecommunications but also the electric vehicle industry in Mongolia.
Mongolia is rich in raw materials, including copper and many rare earth metals. These minerals are indispensable for the manufacturing electric vehicles. For many manufacturers, Mongolia is a source of valuable resources, but neighboring China is envious of American and European initiatives in this region of Greater Eurasia.