SpaceX is working on a new way to make Starlink more affordable by letting multiple subscribers share access to a single satellite dish in exchange for a lower monthly fee.
The company posted details about this “Starlink Community” option on a support page for authorized resellers and enterprise customers. “Starlink is launching a new affordable way to deliver high-speed internet: one Starlink, multiple subscribers—each with their own Starlink account and seamless experience,” one of the support pages says.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
In addition, Starlink.com published a web page for the Community program, although it doesn’t appear to be fully functioning at the moment. It says a monthly pass for the Community plan will cost $60 per month, which is cheaper than the $80-per-month Residential Lite and $120-per-month standard Residential plan.
The Community option was first spotted by Jianping Pan, a computer science professor at the University of Victoria in Canada who studies satellite internet systems. However, he suspects SpaceX will offer the program outside the US and Canada, the company’s main cash cows, where the Starlink business is trying to drive more revenue and willing to lower prices.
In May, SpaceX sent emails, including in Portuguese, to Starlink resellers and installers, hinting at the Community program. The support page reveals the company is preparing to tap resellers to roll out and help manage the program.
(Credit: Starlink)
“We look forward to working with you to help bring affordable, high-speed internet to your community and earn commission for each subscriber,” one of the pages adds. “Community Hosts deploy and maintain Community sites. These sites provide internet access to Community Subscribers.”
Typically, a single Starlink dish is installed for one subscriber, who can share Wi-Fi access within their home. In contrast, the Community program envisions multiple customers each using their own Wi-Fi router to connect to a shared Starlink dish, suggesting the service is targeting apartment complexes without access to stable high-speed broadband.
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(Credit: Starlink)
The support page details the installation steps needed to run a Community site. “Once the Starlink kit and network switch are installed, the host can start on boarding subscribers. Each subscriber must have their own Wi-Fi router,” the page adds.
The Community program will also offer a “Community Hotspot” option focused on “short term connectivity on a single device.” However, the support pages don’t elaborate. Nor do they mention expected limitations, including how sharing access to a single Starlink dish can lead to lower speeds, especially if one user is hogging bandwidth.
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, making it unclear when the Community offering will launch.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
