SpaceX’s internet-from-space program Starlink is increasing prices for
both the purchase of Starlink kits and for the monthly service,
according to a new email sent out to customers this afternoon reviewed
by The Verge. The company says the “sole purpose of these adjustments is
to keep pace with rising inflation.”

Originally, opting into Starlink required a $499 upfront purchase of a
starter kit with all the necessary supplies, including a user terminal,
or antenna, for connecting with SpaceX’s satellites. Customers would
then pay a $99 monthly charge to keep the service running. Now, the new
monthly price going forward will be $110. All new orders of the Starlink
kit will now cost $599, and anyone who put down a deposit for the
original $499 kit will have to pay $549 instead. The new monthly prices
will come into effect at different times for different customers.

How will these prices enable poor countries to access the internet?

--
Frank Howell

On 3/23/2022 10:44 AM, Frank Howell wrote:
> SpaceX’s internet-from-space program Starlink is increasing prices for
> both the purchase of Starlink kits and for the monthly service,
> according to a new email sent out to customers this afternoon reviewed
> by The Verge. The company says the “sole purpose of these adjustments is
> to keep pace with rising inflation.”
>
> Originally, opting into Starlink required a $499 upfront purchase of a
> starter kit with all the necessary supplies, including a user terminal,
> or antenna, for connecting with SpaceX’s satellites. Customers would
> then pay a $99 monthly charge to keep the service running. Now, the new
> monthly price going forward will be $110. All new orders of the Starlink
> kit will now cost $599, and anyone who put down a deposit for the
> original $499 kit will have to pay $549 instead. The new monthly prices
> will come into effect at different times for different customers.
>
>
> How will these prices enable poor countries to access the internet?
>
>

Glad you could join us, Frank.

Technobarbarian wrote:
> On 3/23/2022 10:44 AM, Frank Howell wrote:
>> SpaceX’s internet-from-space program Starlink is increasing prices
>> for both the purchase of Starlink kits and for the monthly service,
>> according to a new email sent out to customers this afternoon
>> reviewed by The Verge. The company says the “sole purpose of these
>> adjustments is to keep pace with rising inflation.”
>>
>> Originally, opting into Starlink required a $499 upfront purchase of
>> a starter kit with all the necessary supplies, including a user
>> terminal, or antenna, for connecting with SpaceX’s satellites.
>> Customers would then pay a $99 monthly charge to keep the service
>> running. Now, the new monthly price going forward will be $110. All
>> new orders of the Starlink kit will now cost $599, and anyone who
>> put down a deposit for the original $499 kit will have to pay $549
>> instead. The new monthly prices will come into effect at different
>> times for different customers.
>>
>>
>> How will these prices enable poor countries to access the internet?
>>
>>
>
>       When talking about Mr. Musk's businesses it's important to
> remember that his greatest strength is salesmanship.
>
> "Who is Starlink really for?
> The boom in LEO satellites will probably change the lives of customers
> who’ve struggled for high-speed internet—but only if they can
> afford it."
>
> "“It’s really meant for sparsely populated regions,” SpaceX
> founder Elon Musk said at a conference in June. “In high-density
> areas, we will be able to serve a limited number of customers.” And
> many rural citizens of the world will be locked out because they
> won’t be able to afford it.
>
> Starlink must get costs down fast in order to expand its customer
> base, but it must also make enough money to continue launching
> hundreds or even thousands of satellites every year. It’s a delicate
> needle that might be impossible to thread."
>
>
> "But it’s not totally clear whether rural America is a viable
> customer base for Starlink. The biggest issue is cost. A Starlink
> subscription is $99. Speeds can vary greatly, but the average user
> should expect 50 to 150 megabits per second. You’d have to pay
> traditional satellite internet companies like Viasat (which operates
> geostationary satellites) double that amount to get the same speeds.
> Not bad.

Let me be clear. I'm literally one of those rural American viable
customers.........well, I'm getting pretty old, and I'm not as viable
as I used to be - and viability, like the passage of time, has great
significance.

--
bill
Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.