After expanding Starlink sales to Home Depot, SpaceX is bringing its satellite internet system to another major retailer: Best Buy.
Best Buy began selling Starlink dishes on its website today, increasing the service’s exposure to consumers. The retailer is selling Starlink hardware online and as a pick-up option at Best Buy physical stores. So it’s possible that Starlink dishes will be on store shelves, too.
However, Best Buy notes it’s only shipping Starlink dishes in 25 US states, many of them located in the western half of the country. In these states, SpaceX has freed up user capacity for the satellite internet system, which can deliver high-speed internet to a user's location, including in rural and remote regions.
If you live in certain parts of the eastern US, though, you won’t be able to purchase a Starlink dish from Best Buy. That’s likely because SpaceX has imposed a waitlist for access to the residential version of Starlink for much of the region. Hence, Best Buy is telling interested consumers: “Check service availability on the Starlink map before you buy.”
SpaceX has long been selling access to Starlink on its official website. But to increase sales, it now looks like the company is trying to tap the retail space. Earlier this month, Starlink became available at Home Depot, and the first units sold out quickly. Home Depot now lists Starlink products as a “best seller.”
Like Home Depot, Best Buy is selling both the standard Starlink dish at $599 and the high-performance dish at $2,500. (Best Buy also throws in free shipping whereas SpaceX charges $50.) Buyers then have to pay a monthly service fee, which can range from $90 to $120 in the US for the residential tier. While the sales are only limited to certain states, SpaceX has been working to increase capacity through more satellite launches.