Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, is currently facing a network outage that has caused mass disruptions for its users. The company has acknowledged the issue on social media and assured its customers that a solution is being actively implemented.

Although the exact number of affected users and locations has not been disclosed, reports of connection failures have emerged from around the world, including in New Zealand. The website downdetector.co.nz indicated a significant increase in outage reports, with over 1860 individuals reporting issues during midday.

Many regular users on the StarLinkNZ Facebook page noted that this outage was the first they had experienced in over a year, highlighting the reliability of the service up until now. Starlink, a satellite network created by Musk’s SpaceX, was designed to offer high-speed and low-latency internet access on a global scale.

In New Zealand, the service has been particularly valuable for individuals living in remote areas and has proven crucial during times of disaster. For example, during the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, Civil Defence teams in Gisborne relied on Starlink to establish communication with the outside world when traditional telecommunication networks were down for an extended period.

Starlink’s mission to provide reliable internet connectivity in hard-to-reach areas has been widely appreciated. As the company works towards resolving the current network outage, its customers are eagerly awaiting further updates.