Amid growing competition for air connectivity, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet unit’s foray into in-flight Wi-Fi services with the launch of Starlink Aviation on Wednesday.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet unit’s foray into in-flight WiFi services with the launch on Wednesday of Starlink Aviation, offering customers a $150,000 (nearly Rs. 1.2 million) aircraft antenna. rupees) amid growing competition for air connectivity.
Starlink, SpaceX’s growing network of thousands of internet satellites, will charge customers seeking broadband internet on private jets between $12,500 (nearly Rs. 10.3 lakh) to $25,000 (nearly Rs. 20.7 lakh). ) per month for the service, plus a one-time hardware cost of $150,000, the company said on its website.
Starlink Aviation will start delivering terminals in mid-2023, it said on its website, with reservations requiring a payment of $5,000 (nearly Rs. 4.1 lakh). He added that each terminal can deliver up to 350Mbps, fast enough for video calls and online games.
Companies building networks of low-Earth orbit satellites carrying broadband internet, such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Britain-backed satellite operator OneWeb, are racing to woo airlines and private jet services in a market dominated by companies like Inmarsat and its rival ViaSat, which they plan to merge.
OneWeb on Tuesday announced a deal with in-flight broadband giant Panasonic Avionics, which provides service to some 70 airlines, to market and sell OneWeb’s broadband service to airlines by mid-2023.
Britain’s competition watchdog last week referred Viasat’s planned takeover of rival Inmarsat for an in-depth investigation over concerns the merger could hamper new competition in the aviation connectivity market and drive up prices for aircraft. Wi-Fi on board airlines.
SpaceX plans to offer Starlink Internet connectivity to Hawaiian Airlines planes next year. The company offers the service for marine and RV customers, and already has tens of thousands of individual consumers paying $110 (nearly Rs. 9,100) a month with a $599 (nearly Rs. 49,700) terminal.
In other news, Elon Musk said on Tuesday that SpaceX’s Starlink services have not received any funding from the US Department of Defense. The statement came a day after reports indicated the Pentagon is considering paying for the network. Starlink satellite in war-torn Ukraine. According to Musk’s tweet, SpaceX is losing roughly $20 million (approximately Rs. 165 crore) a month for unpaid service and costs related to cyber war defense security measures.