SpaceX has already lowered prices on its Starlink internet service and monthly plans to bring in more users outside the US, in some countries, the company is going a step further by offering Starlink dishes for free.
Elon Musk's space company has been hitting major wins recently as it's en route to becoming the most valuable private entity in the world. Days ago, SpaceX landed a government contract worth $5,900,000,000 to launch military satellites into space over the next four years. The company also collaborated with NASA in the rescue mission of 'stranded' astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, following technical issues with their Boeing spacecraft.
In another $843,000,000 contract with NASA, SpaceX is tasked with decommissioning the International Space Station in the next decade.
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Meanwhile, the space company is trying to expand its Starlink reach in select countries.
In Italy, the standard dish priced at €349 is now being offered at no cost - as long as customers commit to a 12-month residential plan. "Get a Starlink Standard kit for 0 € 349 € in exchange for a commitment to a Residential service plan for at least 12 months," reads a translated message from SpaceX.
Similar offers are also showing up for users in Australia. Customers will reportedly only pay a fee if they cancel, change their address, modify their service plan, transfer their Starlink kit to another user, or fail to pay their monthly bill, as per SpaceX.
The offer is part of SpaceX’s latest push to expand the satellite internet service's reach, which now has over five million users in more than 120 markets. However, the journey may be anything but smooth sailing.
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Since the billionaire became a close ally of the White House and a supporter of Trump, his other company, Tesla, has taken a hit with declining sales, along with several boycotts and protests. In addition to his efforts to drastically cut federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has leaned into politics so much that early Tesla investors argue he's 'too distracted' as a multi-company CEO.
Over in Canada, a few Starlink dish installers have reported being harassed - both online and in person - by consumers upset over U.S.-Canada trade tensions. This follows Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford's cancellation of Ontario's $100,000,000 contract with Musk.
While it’s unclear if SpaceX plans to expand the free dish deal to other markets, residential sign-ups in the US are currently paused in major cities due to limited network capacity.