SpaceX is accepting pre-orders from the public for its Starlink satellite internet.
The Elon Musk-owned firm announced potential customers can enter their service address on its website and place a $99 deposit, which covers the first month of usage.
Users opting in have received messages saying SpaceX is ‘targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 202,’ but others are seeing sometime in 2022.
The small print states that pre-orders are fully refundable and can take upwards of six months to fulfill, adding that ‘placing a deposit does not guarantee service.’
SpaceX announced potential customers can enter their service address on its website and place a $99 deposit, which covers the first month of usage
SpaceX first launched its public beta program last October for those living in the US, Canada and the UK.
And in about six months, the firm announced it has ‘over 10,000’ users worldwide.
Along with a monthly fee, users who have access will be required to pay a $499 one-time fee for the hardware kit that includes that includes the ‘UFO on a stick’ terminal, mounting tripod and WiFi router – but it will not be paid until service is received.
SpaceX recently filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FCC) revealing more details of Starlink’s performance, saying it is ‘meeting and exceeding 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps) throughout individual users’ and many are seeing latency ‘at or below 31 milliseconds.’
Users opting in have received messages saying SpaceX is ‘targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 202,’ but others are seeing sometime in 2022. The small print states that pre-orders are fully refundable and can take upwards of six months to fulfill, adding that ‘placing a deposit does not guarantee service
Muskalso hinted at taking SpaceX public in a recent tweet.
‘SpaceX needs to pass through a deep chasm of negative cash flow over the next year or so to make Starlink financially viable,’ he wrote.
‘Every new satellite constellation in history has gone bankrupt. We hope to be the first that does not.’
SpaceX launched the first batch of 60 Starlink satellites on May 23, 2019 and today, the constellation exceeds 1,000 devices.
The firm plans to launch at least 2,200 satellites over the next five years in order to offer a global broadband service covering even the most remote areas of the world.
Also shown in the filling with the FCC was plans to offer a phone service, emergency backup for voice calls and more affordable plans for low-income individuals through the government’s Lifeline program.
Voice service will be sold ‘on a standalone basis at rates that are reasonably comparable to urban rates,’ SpaceX shared.
Along with a monthly fee, users who have access will be required to pay a $499 one-time fee for the hardware kit that includes that includes the ‘UFO on a stick’ terminal, mounting tripod and WiFi router – but it will not be paid until service is received
SpaceX has not yet finalized the plan, but is looking to use ‘a white-label managed service provider (MSP) voice platform.’
‘In this baseline plan, Starlink Services would provide telephone services connecting consumers to its MSP’s platform using its network capacity, which is available to consumers through their customer premises equipment,’ the filing said.
‘Consumers will have the option of using a third-party, conventional phone connected to a Session Initiation Protocol standards-compliant analog terminal adaptor or a native-IP phone selected from a list of certified models.
In regards to the emergency backup, the firm would offer 24-hour battery backup to anyone who wants it.
At the user level, Starlink Services will offer a 24-hour battery back-up option for user equipment that will provide the ability to make phone calls in the event of a power outage,’ SpaceX said.
The filing also shows that Starlink broadband and phone will be available as common-carrier services.
‘For purposes of this [ETC] designation, Starlink Services will provide broadband Internet access service and standalone voice service to the public throughout the Service Areas on a common carrier basis,’ the filing said.