Elon Musk’s aerospace firm SpaceX is now providing free Starlink internet service in Iran amid deadly protests and a nationwide internet blackout. Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the U.S.-based group Holistic Resilience, said that SpaceX has removed the monthly subscription fee so that people who already have Starlink receivers in Iran can connect without paying. A person familiar with Starlink’s operations also confirmed this with Bloomberg, although SpaceX itself did not comment publicly.
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This move shows how Starlink has become an important tool in global politics during times of crisis. In fact, Musk has used Starlink in similar situations before, including in Ukraine, where it has provided internet for civilians and the military. Starlink also offered free broadband in Venezuela earlier this year, following political upheaval after U.S. action against President Nicolás Maduro.
Meanwhile, unrest in Iran has intensified, with hundreds of thousands of people protesting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. To make matters worse, activist groups are warning that thousands may have died over more than two weeks of violence. However, even though Starlink receivers are illegal in Iran, Ahmadian estimates that more than 50,000 units have been smuggled into the country. Unfortunately, Iranian authorities are now trying to jam Starlink signals and track users, according to Amir Rashidi of the Miaan Group.
What Is the Prediction for TSLA Stock?
When it comes to Elon Musk’s companies, most of them are privately held. However, retail investors can invest in his most popular company, Tesla (TSLA). Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on TSLA stock based on 12 Buys, 11 Holds, and seven Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average TSLA price target of $401.93 per share implies 10.1% downside risk.
