"SpaceX performed trials for Starlink, a communal satellite internet system offering reduced rates"
SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is developing a new service called "Starlink Community". This service aims to provide high-speed satellite internet to underserved and low-income communities where traditional broadband is either unavailable or unaffordable.
The Starlink Community service is designed to allow multiple households to share a single Starlink satellite dish terminal. Each household maintains their own individual Starlink account and personal Wi-Fi router, enabling cost-sharing via a single shared dish. This model targets rural, high-density housing, and underserved areas.
Installation of the shared terminal and network switch is performed by a "Community Host". These individuals onboard subscribers and earn commissions for each user they connect.
In terms of availability and pricing, the pilot program indicates that up to 10 subscribers can connect through one shared dish, greatly reducing the cost per user. Preliminary details suggest a price around $60 per user per month, which is approximately half the usual $120 monthly fee for a solo residential subscription. Some reports even indicate potential pricing drops as low as $20 per user in certain areas, though final prices and launch details remain unconfirmed.
However, an open question about potential speed impacts remains. Each user connects through their own Wi-Fi router, but all share the bandwidth of a single dish. SpaceX has not disclosed how bandwidth will be managed across multiple users sharing a single terminal, or how they will mitigate congestion during peak hours.
SpaceX is also planning to launch a "Community Hotspot" option, intended for short-term use by individual devices. This could serve as pop-up public Wi-Fi or emergency connectivity points. Details about the "Community Hotspot" option are currently limited.
The initial signs of the Starlink Community service were reportedly sent in Portuguese, suggesting it may debut in Latin America or other international markets before expanding to Canada or the U.S. The placeholder Community webpage on Starlink's site remains inactive.
Overall, the Starlink Community service aims to significantly lower barriers to satellite broadband in underserved regions. However, exact launch dates, availability areas, and bandwidth management strategies remain to be announced officially.
- The Starlink Community service, designed for shared usage among households, leverages technology to enable cost-effective satellite internet in rural, high-density housing, and underserved areas, with preliminary prices suggesting around $60 per user per month.
- To expand its services, SpaceX is considering launching a "Community Hotspot" option, which could provide short-term connectivity for individual devices, potentially serving as pop-up public Wi-Fi or emergency connectivity points.
