SpaceX's Starlink Goes Pocket-Sized

It seems like every week we’re talking about either a new technological advancement, or Elon Musk in this newsletter. And today - it’s both.

Musk’s SpaceX company just debuted a portable Starlink Mini. For those unaware, Starlink is a satellite internet constellation that allows coverage for over 75 countries. The objective was to provide mobile broadband globally. Starlink currently has over three million subscribers. 

Starlink satellites first launched in 2019 and now consist of over 6,000 of them. The plan is to deploy nearly 12,000 satellites in total.

With that was the debut of the Starlink Mini last week, which is a portable version of their satellite internet product that is small enough to fit inside of a backpack. The mini antenna is 2.5 pounds and has a kickstand. The service also boasts download speeds of over 100 mbps. 

The only problem is, these cost $599. 

There is also the option to bundle Mini Roam service with the existing service plan for an additional $30 a month, with data being capped at 50 gigabytes per month. That would mean, you’d be spending $150 per month.

Early Starlink customers were invited to purchase these Starlink Minis in an invitation that was sent to them. These mini’s are believed to be available starting next month.

This invention could be useful for those who travel, as musk described them on twitter as a “great low-cost option for a good backup internet connection.