Bolivians Turn to Smuggling Starlink Amidst Frustration with Slow Internet Speeds
Bolivia is grappling with a significant digital divide, leading some citizens to desperate measures. Recent attention was drawn to the issue when American streamer IShowSpeed, during a visit to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, experienced persistent glitches that cut short his broadcast to 35 million followers. His frustration underscored a wider problem: Bolivia’s internet infrastructure lags significantly behind its neighbors.
The Starlink Solution (and its Illegality)
In 2022, only 73% of Bolivians had internet access, falling behind Brazil and Chile. Furthermore, Bolivia suffers from the slowest internet speeds in Latin America. Dissatisfaction with the state-run system, which partially relies on the Chinese Túpac Katari 1 satellite, has fueled a growing demand for alternatives. Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, has emerged as a popular, albeit illegal, solution. Banned in Bolivia since August, individuals are now resorting to smuggling in Starlink kits to bypass the country’s slow and unreliable internet service.
Despite the risks, the demand for Starlink highlights the critical need for improved connectivity in Bolivia. Whether the government will address this need remains to be seen, but for many Bolivians, the promise of reliable internet access is worth the risk.
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