North Carolina signs contract with Musk's SpaceX to buy Starlink products, fill internet gaps
Starlink is a satellite internet service company owned by SpaceX and Elon Musk. (/Kevin Dietsch)
North Carolina has inked a deal with SpaceX, Elon Musk's aerospace technology company, to boost internet coverage and infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the state's Department of Information Technology confirmed to NC Newsline on Friday that the department had signed a contract 'to purchase Starlink satellite connectivity products and services for state agencies.'
Starlink is a satellite internet service company owned by SpaceX and Musk. The company sells mobile kits that connect to orbiting satellites; they were widely used in western North Carolina during the early days after Hurricane Helene.
'This will allow for resiliency and redundancy to network infrastructure in the event of an outage due to a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Helene,' communications director Nicole Meister said.
'In addition, it enables agencies to provide internet connectivity in areas where service options are either non-existent or too costly to implement.'
The Department of IT will manage those state services 'to provide a secure network and protect data.' The department did not provide a copy of the contract or its total value.
The deal marks a new plank of North Carolina's efforts to improve internet access across the state. Hundreds of millions in federal dollars have flowed into the state in recent years to expand broadband infrastructure. Service providers have applied for the state's program to expand access, led by former Gov. Roy Cooper's administration.
Musk, who has 42% equity and majority voting control of SpaceX, has become a central figure in the second Trump administration. And while his other prominent company, Tesla, has seen its value jolted in recent weeks, SpaceX has remained comparatively stable. The private company hit a valuation of $350 billion at the end of 2024 after it bought back shares from employees.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Friday.
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