SpaceX’s Upcoming Internet Service Set to Offer Affordable Plans
SpaceX, a space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, has been launching satellites into orbit over the past few years for the upcoming Starlink service, which aims to provide global satellite internet coverage. While the network is still in its early stages with around 900 satellites currently in orbit, SpaceX is ready to commence service in select regions and is offering a preview to a small group of individuals to test its functionality.
From the 70,000 individuals who signed up on SpaceX’s website for Starlink updates, a limited number have been chosen to participate in the initial public beta testing. While Starlink has been undergoing internal testing for some time, this beta phase marks the first opportunity for the general public to experience the service. The Starlink team emphasizes that the network is still in its developmental phase, so users are advised to manage their expectations. Hence, this beta phase has been playfully named the “Better Than Nothing Beta.”
The team’s emails aimed to temper expectations by stating, “As you can infer from the name, we are aiming to set moderate expectations. Speeds may vary between 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s, with latency ranging from 20ms to 40ms in the upcoming months as we continue to refine the Starlink system. Periods of temporary connectivity loss may also occur.”
Deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed pic.com/QVv8m7gClz
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 18, 2020
Per information from CNBC, screenshots of emails revealed insights on the pricing structure of Starlink service. The initial installation kit will cost $499, followed by a $99 monthly fee upon connecting to the service. Assuming the network achieves its goal of providing high-speed internet globally, the pricing appears reasonable.
While SpaceX has invested over $10 billion in the Starlink initiative so far, their projections suggest that a successful Starlink system could generate returns upwards of $30 billion.
