Armenia receives 56 Starlink kits to strengthen emergency communications

By Lia Avagyan

Armenia has received 56 Starlink satellite internet kits to improve emergency communications during natural disasters and other crises, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

The equipment, donated to the Armenian government through a joint initiative of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, will be transferred to the Rescue Service for use during emergency operations. According to the ministry, the terminals will provide reliable internet connectivity in situations where conventional communications infrastructure is damaged, overloaded or unavailable, helping emergency responders coordinate rescue operations more effectively.

The government said the kits are intended to strengthen communication resilience during natural disasters, crisis situations and rescue missions, particularly in remote areas.

Starlink, operated by SpaceX, provides satellite broadband through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. The service has been widely used by emergency responders and governments worldwide to maintain communications when terrestrial networks are disrupted by disasters or conflict.

The Interior Ministry said the donation builds on ongoing cooperation between the Armenian government and Starlink, though it did not disclose the value of the equipment or specify when the terminals would become operational.

Armenia has increasingly sought to strengthen the resilience of its emergency response infrastructure in recent years, as the country faces risks from earthquakes, floods, and other natural hazards, while also modernizing its digital communications capabilities.