SpaceX's Starlink is taking another small step toward expanding its public beta, letting new customers pre-order the satellite internet service. While in the past you could only register your interest by simply signing up for the satellite internet service, you can now pre-order the service by paying a $99 deposit. You'll then receive a date — either in 2021 or 2022 — when you can expect to receive your service based on your location, along with the option to pay by credit card.
The $499 Starlink Kit includes a Wi-Fi router and dish, as well as various other additional fees. The publication says that pre-orders refundable over a period of time, adding that “paying the deposit does not guarantee that you will receive the service.”
Starlink’s public beta launched late last year for people living in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., with more than 10,000 customers already using the service within three months, according to a SpaceX FCC filing. The same filing, which seeks to have designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier, also revealed that SpaceX has more than 1,000 satellites in orbit. The goal is to create a network of tiny satellites that can beam broadband internet to hard-to-reach locations, where decent speeds can be difficult due to a lack of ground-based infrastructure.
Given Musk's high valuation of Tesla as a public company, a floating market could give the satellite company the ability to better finance operations . But first, Starlink must complete the arduous task of assembling its "constellation."
Information source: engadget.com
