Elon Musk Offering Satellite Internet to Tsunami-Hit Tonga

Max Zimmerman, Bloomberg News

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., speaks during a discussion at the Satellite 2020 Conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 9, 2020. The event comprises important topics facing both satellite industry and end-users, and brings together a diverse group of thought leaders to share their knowledge. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg , Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is offering to send Starlink internet terminals to Tonga after an underwater volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami cut off communication links.

Musk was responding on Twitter to a Reuters report that full network services won’t be restored to Tonga for at least a month after an undersea cable was disabled by the twin disasters.

Read more: Pacific Neighbors Rally Around Tonga After Volcanic Eruption

The SpaceX CEO said was he seeking “clear confirmation” from Tonga if it needs the terminals because sending them would be a “hard thing” now as there weren’t enough satellites with laser links. There are also already satellites serving the region, he added.

Musk was responding to a Twitter user who posted a letter from New Zealand parliament member Shane Reti requesting Starlink communications for Tonga.

In the aftermath of the volcanic eruption and tsunami last Saturday, communications with the Tongan government were still deeply affected on Monday, Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.

Read more: New Satellite Images Show How Tonga Volcano Blew Island to Pieces