Insider Brief:
- SpaceX has announced a new addition to its Starlink product lineup: the Starlink Mini, a compact and portable satellite antenna designed to offer mobile high-speed internet.
- The Starlink Mini kit, which is compact enough to fit in a backpack, is being offered in limited quantities for $599 each, according to a recent customer email from SpaceX.
- The Mini Roam service will cost $150 per month and is available throughout the United States with a data cap of 50 gigabytes per month.
SpaceX has announced a new addition to its Starlink product lineup: the Starlink Mini, a compact and portable satellite antenna designed to offer mobile high-speed internet. This smaller device aims to provide connectivity for users on the move, making it easier for them to access the internet from virtually anywhere.
The Starlink Mini kit, which is compact enough to fit in a backpack, is being offered in limited quantities for $599 each, according to a recent customer email from SpaceX. This price point is $100 higher than the Standard Starlink antenna typically sold for residential use, but the company has plans to reduce costs over time.
SpaceX stated its intention to make satellite internet more accessible, particularly in areas where traditional connectivity has been either too expensive or entirely unavailable. Along with the hardware cost, the Starlink Mini service is priced at an additional $30 per month on top of the $120 monthly fee for the Residential service, making the total cost $150 per month. The service, branded as “Mini Roam,” is available throughout the United States with a data cap of 50 gigabytes per month. Users exceeding this limit will incur additional charges of $1 per gigabyte.
The new Starlink Mini is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessors, weighing just over two pounds and measuring approximately 12 inches by 10 inches by 1.5 inches. Despite its reduced size, it retains impressive capabilities, offering download speeds of over 100 megabits per second and featuring a built-in WiFi router with lower power consumption.
While the email did not provide a specific timeline for when customers can expect to receive their Starlink Mini units, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Engineering, Michael Nicolls, mentioned on social media that production is ramping up and that international availability is on the horizon. CEO Elon Musk also highlighted the ease of setup, noting that the process takes less than five minutes.
Since its launch in 2020, SpaceX’s Starlink service has grown rapidly, with a network of about 6,000 satellites now connecting over 3 million customers in 100 countries. Initially targeting consumer markets, SpaceX has since expanded into various sectors including national security, enterprise, mobility, maritime, and aviation. The introduction of the Starlink Mini represents another step in SpaceX’s mission to broaden internet access and disrupt the traditional satellite communications industry.
Overall, the Starlink Mini promises to deliver flexible, high-speed internet access for users on the go, reflecting SpaceX’s commitment to expanding connectivity to even the most remote locations.
Share this article:
