Starlink has over 6,000 satellites that offer internet connectivity in over 100 countries. (Image Source: Oleg Kutkov/X)
SpaceX, the Elon Musk-owned company known for making rockets for NASA, recently unveiled Starlink Mini, a portable satellite internet dish small enough to fit in a backpack.
According to TechCrunch, SpaceX invited some early Starlink adopters to purchase the Starlink Mini kit for $599. This portable satellite internet antenna is $100 more expensive than the standard dish, and the offer appears to be valid only for those with an existing subscription.
Eligible customers were also offered the option to add Mini Roam service to their existing subscription for $30 per month. However, Starlink has capped the data limit at 50GB per month. This means Starlink customers who want both services will have to pay $150 per month if they plan to use the Mini Roam service.
@Starlink Mini with integrated WiFi (puppy not included). Ramping production and will be available in international markets soon. pic.twitter.com/VuXO96rx9U
— Michael Nicolls (@michaelnicollsx) June 20, 2024
In the invitation, SpaceX said that there is no standalone Mini Roam plan yet. They aim to reduce the price of the kit but are unable to do so because “Starlink Mini places additional demand on the satellite network.”
Starlink Mini weighs just 1.13 kg with the kickstand, making it around 60 per cent lighter than the company’s standard dish. The service currently offers maximum download speeds of around 100 Mbps with a latency of around 23 ms. The first Starlink Mini dishes are expected to ship next month. In a post on X, Elon Musk said that Starlink Mini can be a good backup internet connection option in case your existing connection is down.
SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019 and has since launched more than 6,000 satellites orbiting Earth. With over 3 million users worldwide, the service is currently available in 100 countries.