Featured Image Source: SpaceX Starlink.com
SpaceX updated its Starlink website this week, the company now offers “Starlink Premium” service with “more than double the antenna capability of Starlink, delivering faster internet speeds and higher throughput for the highest demand users, including businesses,” the company's website says. Customers can pre-order to reserve the Premium dish antenna and Wi-Fi router via Starlink.com, deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2022. Starlink Premium is “designed specifically for high demand users” it “helps ensure bandwidth for critical operations even during times of peak network usage."
“Starlink Premium users can expect download speeds of 150-500 Mbps [Megabits per second] and latency of 20-40ms [milliseconds], enabling high throughput connectivity for small offices, storefronts, and super users across the globe,” the company says, “With Starlink, there are no long-term contracts, no data caps, and no exclusivity requirements.” The Starlink Premium kit costs $2,500 USD with a monthly internet subscription fee of $500 USD. In comparison to the original Starlink antenna, the Premium model offers to double the internet speed provided by the current standard service which varies between 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps with latency as low as 20ms. SpaceX currently sales two user terminals: the original round dish antenna that beta customers purchased when the service rolled-out in 2020, and an upgraded rectangular antenna that was released in November 2021. Both cost $499 USD with a monthly internet subscription of $99 USD.
Starlink Premium Cost In United States / Starlink.com
The Starlink Premium announcement comes after the company submitted a new filing with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on January 21, that reveals plans to release a high performance (‘HP’) model of the Starlink antenna that will be able to handle “harsher environments”. The application did not include an image of how the improved model looks, the company might be referring to the Starlink Premium version. “Compared to other user terminals SpaceX Services has been authorized to deploy, the HP model has been ruggedized to handle harsher environments so that, for example, it will be able to continue to operate at greater extremes of heat and cold, will have improved snow/ice melt capabilities, and will withstand a greater number of thermal cycles,” SpaceX representatives wrote to the FCC in the filing. In comparison to the current user terminals, the HP Starlink model will be installed using only “qualified” personnel.
SpaceX asked the Commission to approve the HP version to extend broadband service to “a range of much more challenging environments.” “Granting this application would serve the public interest by authorizing a new class of ground-based component for SpaceX’s satellite system that will enhance the range of broadband capabilities available throughout the United States—and most particularly, to those in challenging environments where ruggedization is appropriate… Operation under the requested blanket license will provide the first option for some and promote competition for others in the market for broadband services,” SpaceX wrote. The application says that the HP Starlink dish will be useful to businesses. “Some HP terminals will be deployed in Occupational/Controlled Environments, especially for enterprise customers. In addition, many installations will be made in areas that are inaccessible to the public. However, some HP terminals will likely be deployed in General Population/Uncontrolled Environments as well,” SpaceX said.
02/02/0222 UPDATE: Elon Musk confirms Starlink Premium makes use of the high performance (HP) antenna via Twitter.
Starlink high performance antenna https://t.co/83kIQSNV3l
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2022
Featured Image Source: SpaceX Starlink.com
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
