Severe floods and landslides have hit parts of Indonesia and Sri Lanka after Tropical Cyclone Senyar and Tropical Cyclone Ditwah. Many ground networks are damaged, so satellite internet has become a key backup for basic communication. Starlink is now a central part of that effort in both countries.
Elon Musk replied to the announcement by stressing that this approach is part of a wider policy, writing that “SpaceX standard policy is to make Starlink free whenever there is a natural disaster somewhere in the world.” He added that “It would not be right to profit from misfortune,”
Indonesia: Free service and who gets it
Starlink is giving free service in flood-hit parts of Indonesia through the end of December 2025 to keep existing users online and let new users in disaster zones connect without extra monthly cost.
Here’s how it works in Indonesia:
- Active users in affected areas keep using Starlink as usual, but service credits are added automatically so the bill drops to zero for this period.
- Suspended or paused users in those areas get credits that let them reactivate and use the service without paying extra during the emergency window.
- New customers in the impact zones can buy and activate a kit, then open a support ticket and include the note “Indonesia Flood Support.” After that, credits appear in the billing section, and service is free through the relief period.
If you are in the affected region, the system covers your service so you can get online fast.
Indonesia’s disaster agency, BNPB, is using Starlink terminals as a core tool in North Sumatra. Officials say they have sent 17 terminals with generators into flood-hit districts, where power and fiber are out or unstable. Each terminal can cover roughly a 100‑meter radius, so BNPB has asked for at least five to ten more units for Central Tapanuli alone to reach all clusters of evacuees.
Starlink gear is part of the same cargo as boats, tents and food. Aid shipments to North Sumatra include Landing Craft Rubber boats, boxes of instant noodles, refugee tents and a compressor, along with the satellite units.
Sri Lanka: Free credits for all affected Starlink users
Sri Lanka is getting a similar support package. Local media carried a public statement that says: “Starlink has announced free service for all Sri Lankan customers affected by the severe flooding, valid until the end of December,” and confirms that both active and suspended accounts receive automatic credits. The same message adds that the company’s “thoughts are with the affected communities during this challenging time.”
Residents have described the connection as a lifeline for basic communication in the worst days of the storm. The experience is likely to shape how Sri Lankan authorities think about satellite support in future disasters.
This model has been used before in Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton in the United States, in a major storm in Cape Verde, in fires in Canada, and after Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas. In those events, Starlink provided a mix of compact units (like Starlink Mini for mobile teams) and larger terminals for shelters and command centers. Indonesia and Sri Lanka are now seeing the same pattern, and a focus on keeping both agencies and civilians online.
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