The government agreed with Musk's company on a plan of USD 21.8 million to install 6,000 kits and ensure free connectivity for the first three years in schools in remote areas
From a technological standpoint, the service provided by Elon Musk's company stands out radically from traditional offerings because it operates through a massive constellation of thousands of satellites in low orbit, positioned at a height strictly between 550 and 1,200 kilometers from the Earth's surface.
This orbital proximity drastically reduces the latency of the signal (the time it takes for information to travel), allowing for very high-quality data transfer speeds that directly rival fiber optics.
The system consists of three essential pillars: the satellite constellation, the ground transmission stations, and the kit installed in the school, which includes a smart outdoor antenna commercially named "Dishy" and a high-power router.
The antenna operates completely autonomously, redirecting itself towards the passing satellites without requiring any human intervention, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
To understand the incalculable social and economic benefit that the government of Javier Milei brings to rural Argentine schools free of charge, it is enough to observe the current market prices for individual users as of August 2026.
Elon Musk
Acquiring and maintaining Starlink service privately represents a very significant investment: home plans range from $45,000 to $65,000 Argentine pesos monthly. Those users who opt for the itinerant mode must pay amounts ranging from $63,000 to $140,000 pesos monthly.
On the other hand, companies wishing to contract corporate services must face fees starting from $66,665 to $642,365 pesos monthly depending on the contracted transfer capacity.
Finally, the segment of maximum global connectivity —specifically designed for the maritime sector or international coverage— can reach extreme prices of up to $3,760,000 monthly.
Although the diversification of these plans has made Starlink an extraordinary alternative where conventional networks or fiber optics are absent, the initial cost of acquiring the antenna and the monthly fees represent the main access barrier for traditional households and small local merchants.
Additionally, conventional private satellite internet service is subject to weather volatility, the imperative need for a completely clear view of the sky, and possible congestion episodes in dense urban environments.
In an unprecedented advance towards the development and modernization of national education, the Government of Javier Milei and the prestigious international firm Starlink have sealed a historic strategic alliance to provide high-speed satellite internet to a total of 6,000 rural schools distributed throughout the Argentine territory.
The historic connectivity plan represents a joint investment valued at the impressive figure of USD 21.8 million. In a demonstration of optimal management and public-private coordination, the financing will be resolved through a highly beneficial mixed scheme for the taxpayer: the national government, through the Universal Service Fund (a public resource strictly dedicated to technological inclusion), will contribute almost 12 million dollars.
Starlink
For its part, the multinational company of Elon Musk will make a massive corporate contribution in equipment and services valued at around USD 10 million.
The operational deployment of the agreement includes the direct distribution of 6,000 satellite kits that will be provided by the local subsidiary Starlink Argentina.
Each border or rural educational institution will receive state-of-the-art technological equipment consisting of receiving antennas and routers specially optimized to withstand severe rural conditions.
Furthermore, the national administration has guaranteed free access to the company's highest capacity commercial plan for each of these schools, which gives absolute priority for connection and enables a monumental monthly consumption of up to five terabytes of data.
Regarding the long-term sustainability of the project, the agreement establishes that during the first 24 months, the cost of the service will be absorbed and financed directly by Starlink.
Once this initial two-year period of corporate gratuity concludes, the National Communications Entity (ENACOM) will take over the financial responsibility, covering a complete third year of service.
This strategic planning ensures that the benefiting schools will not be left unsupported or suffer technological disconnection once the launch phase is completed.
President Javier Milei and Elon Musk
The rigorous installation schedule will give absolute priority to areas with the greatest difficulties in physical connectivity, projecting that the vast majority of the 6,000 schools will have fully active and stable service before the end of the 2026 school year.
