Elon Muskobsessed SpaceX‘s Starlink has launched a new service that allows air travelers to stay connected during a flight.
What happened: Starlink on Tuesday announced “Starlink Aviation,” which the company says will provide high-speed, low-latency internet and in-flight connectivity around the world.
The service will deliver up to 350 Mbps to each aircraft, allowing all passengers to access streaming-enabled internet at the same time, Starlink said.
The latency is only 20 milliseconds. Passengers can participate in activities such as video calls, online games, virtual private networks, among others.
Starlink Aviation will have superior technology and will also be convenient to install, the company said. Installation kit includes Aero Terminal, power supply 2, wireless access points, and wire harnesses.
While potential customers can start making reservations immediately, deliveries would begin in 2023. Reservations can be made with a $5,000 deposit and the recurring service fee is aircraft dependent and would range from $12,500 to $25,000 per month. The one-time hardware expense is $150,000.
Musk took to Twitter to flaunt the service.
Internet on airplanes will feel like accessing the Internet at home! https://t.co/Mfl2ixYnJH
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2022
Why it matters: Starlink has recently been rapidly adding new services and introducing connectivity for recreational and marine vehicles, in addition to serving homes and businesses.
Musk has requested support for Starlink to expand the service to remote and rural areas. Recently the Tesla Inc. TSLA The CEO said Starlink will soon have a donation option for this purpose.
Continue reading: Elon Musk Says Starlink Still Far From Cash Flow: ‘Any Support Is Super Helpful’
