A remote area of Co Kerry may soon take part in a trial for tech billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet service.
The Black Valley has been a "black spot" for technology for decades.
It was the last place in Ireland to be connected to electricity in 1976 and only got an upgraded telephone line in 2007.
#blackvalley @elonmusk plans to bring broadband to Kerry's Black Valley, the most beautiful place in all Ireland. @TourismIreland But ssshh its a secret for now! Our historic photos by Donal MacMonagle as electrification arrived 1976 to last outpost in Eire @HistoryInPics pic.twitter.com/7ZX22GNyXx
— macmonagle (@MACMONAGLE) February 23, 2021
But a billionaire in California may just change their luck.
Elon Musk's Starlink uses low orbit satellites and is being trialled in other remote parts of the world.
Deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed pic.twitter.com/apZ7oTOvNk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 16, 2021
Mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor Scarteen says the county council is looking into a range of options to boost connectivity.
"It's seven years before the National Broadband Plan will be fully rolled out."
"We want to get something as quick as possible into Kerry."
30 percent of the county does not have access to a quality broadband service.
Remote Working And Study "Unfeasible" In Black Valley
John O'Donoghue is from the Black Valley, and he says people there feel disconnected from the outside world.
"I started working from home and it wasn't feasible from the very beginning."
The recent graduate had to drive thirty minutes away to get service to work remotely.
"I've been forced to move out just to do my job."
"I've a brother and sister as well in secondary school and a lot of the time they've to be driven somewhere just to download homework."
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So if you spot a Tesla in Tralee it might be Elon checking on his South Kerry project.
