For Brazilian documentarian and activist Maihara Marjorie, Starlink has become an indispensable tool in her work exploring one of the world’s most remote and ecologically vital regions — the Amazon rainforest. Maihara first began visiting the Amazon in 2012, driven by a desire to experience and understand the region firsthand. What she found was a stark contrast between the lived reality of the Amazon and the images portrayed in mainstream media. Determined to present a more authentic view, she began documenting her expeditions and interactions with Indigenous Peoples and local communities. However, without reliable internet access, sharing these stories in real time was nearly impossible — until Starlink’s satellite connectivity entered the picture.
With Starlink, Maihara was able to stream her experiences live to social media, bringing viewers across the world directly into the heart of the rainforest as events unfolded. The ability to broadcast from remote locations not only enhanced her storytelling, but also gave audiences an unfiltered window into everyday life along the Amazon River and beyond. Reflecting on this transformation, Maihara has stated that “connectivity is a privilege,” and that access to the internet should not be limited to urban centers or developed countries.
Her hope is that Starlink’s technology becomes even more widely available to local people — particularly Indigenous communities whose voices have historically been underrepresented in global discourse. By providing satellite internet directly to these regions, she believes that Indigenous Peoples and remote residents will be able to share their own perspectives and messages with the world, rather than having outsiders speak for them. In doing so, the platform empowers communities to shape their own narratives and contribute to global conversations about culture, environment and heritage.
Maihara’s story is one among many featured by Starlink users around the world who have found new opportunities thanks to high-quality internet access in places where traditional infrastructure is absent. Across remote landscapes from the Amazon to rural farms and educational initiatives, satellite internet is changing how people communicate, collaborate and participate in the digital age.
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