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Elon Musk's "Starlink" Internet Could Be Trialled In Rural Kerry

Newsroom
Newsroom

03:34 23 Feb 2021


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A remote area of Co Kerry may soon take part in a trial for tech billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet service.

The Black Valley has been a "black spot" for technology for decades.

It was the last place in Ireland to be connected to electricity in 1976 and only got an upgraded telephone line in 2007.

But a billionaire in California may just change their luck.

Elon Musk's Starlink uses low orbit satellites and is being trialled in other remote parts of the world.

Mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor Scarteen says the county council is looking into a range of options to boost connectivity.

"It's seven years before the National Broadband Plan will be fully rolled out."

"We want to get something as quick as possible into Kerry."

30 percent of the county does not have access to a quality broadband service.

Remote Working And Study "Unfeasible" In Black Valley

John O'Donoghue is from the Black Valley, and he says people there feel disconnected from the outside world.

"I started working from home and it wasn't feasible from the very beginning."

The recent graduate had to drive thirty minutes away to get service to work remotely.

"I've been forced to move out just to do my job."

"I've a brother and sister as well in secondary school and a lot of the time they've to be driven somewhere just to download homework."

 

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A post shared by Elon Musk 🍥 (@elonofficiall)

So if you spot a Tesla in Tralee it might be Elon checking on his South Kerry project.


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