SpaceX announced on Tuesday it has expanded its Starlink Maritime service to boats of all sizes, and not just commercial offerings.
“Boats can now enjoy download speeds of up to 220 Mbps while at sea, with monthly plans starting at $250 USD ($329 in Canada) a one-time hardware cost of $2,500 USD ($3,170 in Canada),” says SpaceX’s updated website.
The service is now available in a multitude of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Italy, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, availability is still subject to regulatory approval in certain areas.
Starlink Maritime has been designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, such as cold, heat, hail, sleet, heavy rain, and gale-force winds. Impressively, the technology has also proven to be resilient against the force of rocket engines, as demonstrated by the continuous high-quality video coverage of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landings at sea.
Boats of all sizes can now get high-speed connectivity on waters all around the world, including lakes, seas, and oceans. New Starlink Maritime plans available → https://t.co/Qa48wjgWjn pic.twitter.com/Zfree42Mee
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 18, 2023
The hardware for Starlink Maritime is compact and easy to install, requiring minimal above deck space and coming with a simple mounting system. To ensure optimal connectivity, Starlink requires an unobstructed view of the sky, which users can check using the Starlink app available on iOS and Android.
Security is a top priority for Starlink, and the service implements end-to-end encryption to protect user data and traffic confidentiality. Users can remotely monitor and manage their Starlink fleet from a single portal.
In a move to cater to individual needs, Starlink Maritime offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing users to pause and un-pause their service at any time. The service is billed in one-month increments, providing flexibility for boat owners with varying internet requirements.
Last July, SpaceX announced Starlink Maritime, which required a $10,000 hardware cost, to go with $5,000 per month for service fees, with two high performance Starlinks and pipe adapter mounts included.
Now, any boat operator can subscribe to Starlink and pay $329 per month after purchasing hardware first. For those in rural areas who want to use Starlink on their boat, this service comes as a godsend for connectivity.
