Bolivia plans to deploy more than 4,500 Starlink satellite terminals across its public school system, targeting rural communities where mountainous terrain and limited telecommunications infrastructure have restricted Internet access.
The government announced the expansion on under its Connected Classroom programme, which aims to extend high-speed connectivity to educational institutions across all nine departments.
Initial implementation agreements have been completed with 85 municipalities in La Paz department, establishing the first phase of a nationwide rollout coordinated by central government, education authorities and municipal administrations.
Participating schools will receive 24 months of free satellite Internet service, alongside digital training programmes designed to help teachers integrate online learning platforms, multimedia resources and interactive educational tools into classroom instruction.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, uses a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver broadband connectivity through ground terminals, reducing dependence on terrestrial fibre networks and mobile infrastructure.
The technology could address longstanding connectivity gaps in Bolivia’s geographically isolated communities, where conventional network deployment remains technically challenging and commercially unattractive.
Authorities say installation priorities will be determined by geographical isolation and existing levels of digital exclusion, with schools receiving connectivity through government agreements rather than individual applications.
The programme also seeks to expand access to virtual libraries, remote laboratories and educational resources previously unavailable to many rural students.
However, the announcement did not specify the overall project budget, installation timetable or arrangements for maintaining connectivity after the initial two-year subsidy expires.
Those details will prove critical in determining whether Bolivia’s satellite education initiative delivers sustainable improvements in rural digital inclusion nationwide.
