Starlink satellites are seen in the sky above Uruguay in February 2021 AFP / Mariana SUAREZ
Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet service Starlink has released a new premium service that claims to have the fastest internet speed.
The service comes with a hefty price tag. New Starlink Premium customers must pay a $500 refundable deposit and a $2,500 fee for the antenna and router. The service costs $500 a month.
“Starlink Premium has more than double the antenna capability of Starlink, delivering faster internet speeds and higher throughput for the highest-demand users, including businesses,” the Starlink website reads.
The first Starlink standard service launched in October 2020. It was priced at $99 a month, with a $99 refundable deposit, and a $499 hardware fee.
The higher costs come with improved hardware, faster service speeds and priority customer support, according to Starlink. Premium users can also expect download speeds of 150 megabits per second with latency between 20 milliseconds and 40 milliseconds, along with “no data caps,” the company said.
It claims to deliver high-speed internet to rural and remote locations “no matter how remote.”
Those interested in the service can reserve their orders on the Starlink website. Deliveries start in the second quarter of 2022.
As of January, Starlink’s standard service had more than 145,000 users in 25 countries.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)