SpaceX is raising prices for Starlink internet in Ukraine, following struggles to lock down continued funding for the country’s satellite internet hardware and services, according to a report from PC Mag, citing user reports from Ukraine.
The news came in email form for many users of the internet service, with SpaceX alerting customers that it will be increasing the monthly cost in Ukraine from $65 to $75. Additionally, SpaceX is raising prices on the Starlink terminal kit from a $500 flat fee to $700.
The cost increases are set to take place on December 29, and the company has let customers know that they can also cancel before then if they do not wish to pay the higher pricing model.
“If you do not wish to continue your service, you can cancel at any time,” said SpaceX in the email.
Елону все мало грошей pic.twitter.com/KxjSWvrmbS
— ٌКіберерудит (@rozhkovsky) November 29, 2022
Comparatively, SpaceX charges U.S. customers $599 for Starlink’s hardware, along with a $110 monthly fee for the satellite internet service.
The news comes after SpaceX head Elon Musk publicly asked the U.S. Pentagon to take over in paying for Starlink in Ukraine, before officially deciding to keep paying for the service as a company. The direct quote from Musk over the decision was “The Hell With It.”
Still, the Pentagon has considered taking over payment for Ukraine’s Starlink internet service even since the decision.
Musk also said that out of the roughly 25,300 Starlink terminals sent to Ukraine, only about 10,630 of the active users are paying for the service.
