When will Starlink internet be available in Armenia? Interview with Armen Kherlopian

SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet may become available in Armenia this year or next year. Armen Kherlopian, founder of BAJ Accelerator and director of science and innovation at Covenant Venture Capital, told NEWS.am Tech.

He came to Armenia to participate in Sevan Startup Summit 2024, one of the most important IT events of the year. During the event, he held mentoring sessions for startups and also showed a small portable terminal that can be used to connect to the Starlink Internet.

Why does Armenia need Starlink Internet?

Armenia is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable via Georgia, and problems with this cable can cause serious disruptions to the internet. However, thanks to Starlink technology, the internet in Armenia can become truly independent, as Armen Kherlopian noted: even if the cable is damaged, even if there are floods, earthquakes and other disasters, access to the Starlink internet in Armenia will be preserved, and therefore this technology is of strategic importance for the country.

Today it is difficult to imagine life without the Internet: every year the country's economy depends more and more on it - and this, as Kherlopian noted, is not only about technology companies, but also about small businesses, such as coffee and tea shops, for which the Internet is also necessary.

"Internet independence is of fundamental importance for Armenia, just like energy independence and security. All three are necessary to ensure people's security, and they are all interconnected," the specialist said.

As early as 2022, everything has been ready in Armenia to join Starlink, as Kherlopian noted. The process, however, has dragged on a bit. It is expected that Starlink Internet will be available in Armenia in 2025, but many specialists are actively working to bring this date closer as possible. Kherlopian himself hopes that Armenia will be able to connect to Starlink this year.

How does Starlink internet work?

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband internet by communicating with satellites that orbit the Earth at a lower altitude than traditional satellites. There are currently more than 6,000 of these satellites, making Starlink internet accessible from almost anywhere on the planet, even in remote or rural areas where traditional internet service is unavailable or slow.

These satellites communicate with ground stations on Earth and with Starlink user terminals, which actually receive Internet signals from the satellites and send data back.

When Starlink Internet officially starts working in Armenia, to connect to it, it will be necessary to purchase a corresponding terminal, the size of which depends on their capabilities and bandwidth, and pay a monthly fee. A small terminal, according to Kherlopian, will cost about a million drams, and a network of three such terminals will be able to provide satellite Internet to a village or a small town.

This year Sevan Startup Summit was held from July 21 to 27 in a tent city on the shore of Lake Sevan. Every year, this informal business forum attracts hundreds and thousands of startups from Armenia and a number of other countries, giving them the opportunity to present their ideas to potential investors and mentors, listen to speeches of famous guests, participate in panel discussions, seminars, campfire talks, entertainment events and much more.

NEWS.am Tech is the media partner of the event.