SpaceX has introduced Starlink Mini, a more compact model of their satellite internet service that can fit into a backpack.
The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, while conforming the product launch on X said that the Mini could be “a great low-cost option for a good backup Internet connection if your landline goes out.”
SpaceX’s well-known satellite internet service, Starlink, is currently powered by more than 6,000 satellites in orbit. Over 3 million people use the program in 100 different countries.
An invitation sent to consumers that TechCrunch was able to examine indicates that the Starlink Mini kit was available for purchase by early adopters of the service for $599.
That is a $100 premium over the typical Starlink setup. For an extra $30 a month, they could combine Mini Roam service with their current service plan; however, the monthly data allotment is limited to 50 gigabytes.
Newsng gathered backpackers will soon be able to access SpaceX’s Starlink internet-from-space service, which is now available for boats, aircraft, van lifers, Amazonian villages, and rural homes in over 75 countries.
The Wi-Fi router is integrated into the dish of the new, thin, DC-powered Starlink Mini, which is roughly the size of a thick laptop. It can also achieve rates exceeding 100Mbps while consuming less power than conventional Starlink terminals.
“Our goal is to reduce the price of Starlink, especially for those around the world where connectivity has been unaffordable or completely unavailable,” reads the Starlink support page.
“In regions with high usage, like the US, where Starlink Mini places additional demand on the satellite network, we are offering a limited number of the Starlink Mini Kits to start at a higher price point.”
Starlink has made great strides toward its goal of giving underprivileged areas of the world access to high-speed, low-latency internet.
To make its gear and services more affordable, the corporation has continuously sought to lower its prices.
We earlier reported that SpaceX has entered into a partnership with Telespazio, a joint venture between French rival Thales and Italian military and aerospace giant Leonardo, to commercialise the services of its satellite business Starlink.