SpaceX is set to launch a new, more portable version of its Starlink antennas called "Mini," aimed at providing high-speed, low-latency internet on the go. The company has started advertising this mobile option to its satellite internet customers through a customer email sent out on June 19, 2024.
The Starlink Mini antenna is being offered for $599 each in an early access release, with the company planning to reduce the price tag in the future. In addition to the upfront hardware cost, service for a Starlink Mini is priced at $150 per month, with a cap of 50 gigabytes of data per month and additional charges for extra data.
Measuring just over 2 pounds and about 12 inches by 10 inches by 1.5 inches in size, the Starlink Mini is roughly half the size and a third of the weight of the Standard antenna. It comes with a built-in WiFi router and lower power consumption, while still offering download speeds over 100 megabits per second.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has expressed his enthusiasm for the new product, claiming that setting up a Starlink Mini takes less than 5 minutes and declaring that it will "change the world."
Since its debut in 2020, SpaceX's Starlink network has rapidly expanded, with about 6,000 satellites in orbit connecting over 3 million customers in 100 countries. The company has also ventured into other markets beyond consumer customers, including national security, enterprise, mobility, maritime, and aviation services, disrupting the existing satellite communications sector.
Overall, SpaceX's introduction of the Starlink Mini antenna represents another step in the company's efforts to provide affordable and accessible internet connectivity around the world, leveraging its growing influence in the industry.