Excerpt from citylife.capetown

As the first Caribbean country to join the Starlink satellite network, the island nation is poised to revolutionize its environmental protection policies.

Starlink, the satellite-based broadband internet network operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides internet access to remote and rural areas around the world. Sint Maarten is the latest country to join the network, after signing a deal with SpaceX in 2021.

The addition of Starlink to Sint Maarten marks a major shift in the country’s environmental protection policies. The satellite-based internet connection will enable Sint Maarten to access and use a range of environmental protection technologies, including remote sensing, real-time monitoring, and data collection.

Remote sensing technology will allow Sint Maarten to monitor the island’s land and marine habitats, as well as its air and water quality. This will enable the government to tailor its environmental protection policies to the specific needs of each location, as well as to identify any potential threats.

The launch of Starlink satellites is an impressive feat, but it’s important to remember that it can have unintended consequences. The University of Sint Maarten is working to mitigate these effects and ensure that researchers can continue to accurately measure air pollutants in the area.