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Here’s when Elon Musk’s Starlink internet is worth the steep monthly price — and $350 startup cost

MarketWatch作者：Genna Contino2026年8月10日正文已收录本站

These are the limited circumstances in which choosing a SpaceX-operated Starlink setup over fiber, cable and 5G may make financial sense

Updated

Starlink is growing its subscriber base, but experts say the satellite internet service run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX remains a niche option. Above Musk is shown at a joint event in 2022 with T-Mobile in Boca Chica Beach, Texas.
Starlink is growing its subscriber base, but experts say the satellite internet service run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX remains a niche option. Above Musk is shown at a joint event in 2022 with T-Mobile in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. Photo: Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images

Starlink is evolving. The satellite internet provider owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX SPCX has transitioned from an experimental service with bulky dishes to a more mainstream brand that now offers smaller hardware that’s easier to install in homes.

The internet business, which now powers in-flight wifi on major airlines, was deemed the “crown jewel” of SpaceX’s empire, as the company’s first earnings report last week showed Starlink’s subscriber base has doubled on a year-over-year basis.