Musk donates 50 satellite earth stations to Tonga

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has donated fifty satellite ground stations to Tonga to restore communications with the archipelago. A submarine volcanic eruption in mid-January cut the only fiber connection to Tonga. More than a month later, the connection has not yet been restored.

Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni reported Friday (local time) that SpaceX is making fifty so-called VSAT ground stations available. These are ground stations that are wirelessly connected to communication satellites. This makes data communication with remote areas possible.

“How best to use the ground stations,” Sovaleni said, is currently being considered. The equipment will be installed by technicians from the aerospace company and the local government. The intention is that the ground stations will be operational from next week.

The remote Pacific archipelago is also said to have been offered help to improve internet capacity. “That is now being tested,” said Sovaleni. In addition, temporary repairs are expected to be completed early next week, according to the prime minister.