Courtesy of @michaelnicollsx, VP of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX.
SpaceX’s satellite internet is becoming much more portable. The startup known for its satellite-powered Starlink internet program is launching a mini mobile antenna, small enough to fit in a backpack.
Announcing the product on backpack. This product will change the world.
Musk then released a purported speed test for the connection. The test shows a download of 100 Mbps, an upload of 11.5 Mbps and a latency of 23 ms.
An antenna not given
The Mini, which will cost $599. It provides Internet access anywhere, according to SpaceX, with a data cap of 50 GB for $30 per month. Usage beyond this cap will cost $1 per gigabyte. The company clarified, however, that “our goal is to reduce the price of Starlink, especially for people around the world where connectivity is unaffordable or completely unavailable,” so it’s possible that the $599 price will be brought down. to decrease.
The device weighs just over 1 kilo and measures 30 centimeters by 25 centimeters by 4 centimeters. Which is barely bigger than a sheet of paper (but much thicker, of course). Starlink Mini is significantly smaller and lighter than a regular Starlink dish and consumes significantly less power.
If you want Starlink Mini to stay safe outdoors, know that it operates in temperatures ranging from -30° to 50° and is dust and water resistant to IP67.
For customers who already subscribe or not?
If you’re interested, there’s a little catch. SpaceX only offers Starlink Mini to customers who have Starlink residential service. It is not possible to buy the Mini without already being a customer, at least in the United States. We will see what happens during marketing in France. But in the other countries where the Mini has also been launched for the time being (Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama), this condition does not seem to be met.
SpaceX says it is selling “a limited number” of early access devices in the United States. Currently, they are only available to selected customers via email invitation.
If you often find yourself in places without a cellular connection, the Starlink Mini has huge potential. However, if it remains linked to a residential account, this will constitute an obstacle for a lot of people.
