MILAN, Italy - SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, and Unipol Gruppo, the largest Italian insurance group, have announced a partnership to provide satellite internet access to people affected by the recent floods in northern Italy.
The floods, caused by torrential rains, have killed 14 people and displaced 36,000 others in the Emilia – Romagna region. The disaster has also damaged infrastructure, agriculture, and communication networks.
The help with the rescue and recovery efforts, Unipol has purchased Starlink terminals from SpaceX and will make them available for rescuers, hospitals, and the public. Starlink is a constellation of satellites that have provides high-speed, low-latency internet services in remote areas.
SpaceX is positioning its satellites to prioritise the Emilia-Romagna region and provide improved coverage. “SpaceX, Starlink and Tesla are happy to be of use in any way to help Italy and people affected by the flooding”, Musk said in a statement.
Uniplo’s CEO Carlo Cimbri said the partnership with SpceX was “a concrete example of how innovation and technology can be used for social good”. He added that Unipol was committed to supporting its customers and communities in this difficult time.
The Starlink terminals will be installed in strategic locations and will allow people to access online services, such as banking, insurance, education and entertainment. They will also enable better coordination among emergency responders and local authorities.
The partnership between SpaceX and Unipol is expected to last until the end of June, when the situation is hoped to improve. However, both companies said they were open to extending th
Kommentare