Louisiana takes a huge step towards connecting the entire state to broadband internet through a partnership with Starlink. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says Starlink will deliver high-speed internet access to more than 10,000 rural locations in more than 50 parishes by the end of the summer.
“The cost of providing fiber connectivity for some of these locations was going to be so expensive that likely it would have made better sense, and it would have been quicker, to connect these folks with Starlink,” Iyengar explained.
Iyengar says under the partnership with the state, the customers will get the equipment for free, and the service will be about $55 a month for good, reliable high-speed internet.
“The state law states high-speed internet as 100 megabits download and 20 megabits upload. Starlink has consistently shown that they provide in excess of those speeds,” Iyengar noted.
Iyengar reiterates that Starlink is only intended for locations which are so rural that it’s impossible to install fiber internet in a cost-effective way.
“I would say 98%-99% of the state’s going to be covered with fiber. And then those areas where there is no fiber will be serviced by either Starlink or another solution; in this case, fixed wireless,” Iyengar said.
For more information on Starlink’s services, visit Starlink’s website: www.starlink.com.