Elon Musk-backed SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink is now available for pre-orders in India for $99 which is roughly above Rs 7000. Internet connectivity is expected to be made available to Indian users in 2022 through satellites that SpaceX will launch in orbit. It is currently in the beta-testing phase. Any user can go and check the availability of the services in their area through Starlink’s website.
“Starlink is available to a limited number of users per coverage area at this time. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis,” reads Starlink’s website.
Interested users in India can pay a deposit of $99, which is a little over Rs 7000 to pre-book their Starlink broadband. The company has noted that this amount is refundable. Users can check the availability of the service by typing in their city and postal code. As of now Starlink’s website for Maharashtra notes that it is targeting coverage in your area in 2022 and that its availability is limited.
The company notes that the orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once users click on the Order Now button, users are redirected to an information page where they are required to put in details like their first name, last name, phone number, and email address. Users will also be required to put in their card details to place a deposit of $99.
Starlink has also spelled out that the service will be released and will be available depending on various regulatory approvals. It has also noted that the users may not get the broadband connection at all and if they do it may not be on the said date due to such factors.
According to online reports, users in the USA, Australia, and Mexico get a Starlink kit for $499, which includes everything users will need to connect to the internet including Starlink, wifi router, power supply, cables, and mounting tripod. Starlink is reportedly looking to eventually deliver high-speed internet of up to 1 Gbps downloading or uploading speed to its users. As of now, it gives up to 150 Mbps speeds which are reported to double up to 300 Mbps through testing.
Starlink’s website notes that it will collect user data such as identity data, contact data, and profile data, and financial data such as card details for monetary transactions. The company notes that it takes measures to protect users’ personal information from “loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.”
For relatively better internet connectivity, Starlink broadband has some caveats like a clear field of view. “In early service, the required clear field of view is a 100-degree cone around the center of the dish (after tilting) with a 25-degree elevation minimum. Some obstructions are worse than others. Obstructions low in the sky will cause more outages because satellites are in this area of the sky more frequently,” Starlink in one of its FAQ notes.
