(Credit: Starlink.com)
SpaceX's Starlink is rolling out a new deal that slashes the monthly price of the satellite internet service in the US by $21. But like before, the reduced rate only lasts for a few months.
SpaceX has updated Starlink.com to mention the special discount for new customers interested in Residential Plans. The required Starlink dish is also available as a free rental.
- Residential 100Mbps: $29/month (was $50)
- Residential 200Mbps: $59/month (was $80)
- Residential Max: $99/month (was $120)
At first glance, the offer may look like SpaceX’s deepest discount yet for its Starlink Residential plans. But the reduced rates apply only to the first three months of service, after which pricing reverts to regular pricing. Thus, US customers are only saving $63 during the discount period.
(Credit: Starlink.com)It’s similar to last month’s deal, where Starlink shaved $15 off the Residential plans, but only for the first four months of a subscription, or $60 saved. The best deal was actually in March; although the company slashed plans by $11, the reduced rate lasted for six months, translating into $66 saved over the period.
Still, the $29, $59, and $99 discounted prices might appeal to users curious about trying Starlink. Last week, a Virginia-based cable internet service provider, Shentel, reported losing some customers to Starlink, citing recent promotions.
The key limitation is that SpaceX is only offering Residential 100Mbps and 200Mbps in areas where Starlink has excess network capacity. If you live in a congested area, like Seattle, the Residential Max is available for $99 per month during the three-month period. But you’ll need to pay $349 for the Starlink dish, along with a hefty one-time “demand surcharge” of $500, putting the up-front cost at $869 during the checkout process.
The Starlink website adds that the latest discount will only be offered until June 1. But we wonder if SpaceX will dangle a similar, or perhaps better deal next month. The company may be extra motivated to sign up new users, given that SpaceX is preparing an IPO and will want to impress potential investors.
SpaceX is also offering a similar discount for Canadian users. But it appears to be a repeat of last month's deal, except the promotion lasts for three months of service, rather than four.
