2026년 2월 26일 · Unknown · financial · 출처 Yahoo Finance
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that the company's satellite internet service, Starlink, is targeting a broader customer base with its latest move.
Starlink To Offer Free Hardware
In a post on the social media platform X on Monday, a handle called X Daily News posted that the satellite internet service provider was "aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners," also adding that Starlink's move could be in response to Amazon.com Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Kuiper's (Amazon Leo) imminent arrival.
Amazon's Leo, which was earlier called Project Kuiper, recently sought an extension from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy its satellites in orbit.
Starlink is aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners, The Information reports.
The moves are timed ahead of SpaceX's planned IPO and the debut of Amazon Kuiper, locking in customers before competition intensifies.https://t.co/g8ZCq8LyHX…
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Elon Musk Confirms Move
Responding to the post, Musk confirmed Starlink's move to cut prices and offer free hardware. "This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we're just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience," the billionaire said.
He also confirmed that the move was targeting customers in developing countries. "The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don't have much money, especially in the developing world," he said.
This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we're just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience.
The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don't have much money, especially in the developing world.
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Starlink's Direct-To-Cell EU Plans, On-Flight Wi-Fi
The news comes as Starlink announced it will offer direct-to-cell connectivity in the European Union following a deal with Spanish telecom operator MasOrange. The agreement would see trials for the service initially beginning in the Spanish province of Valladolid.
The company had earlier signed a deal with Ukrainian telecom operator Kyivstar Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:KYIV) after testing for direct-to-cell connectivity had been underway for over a year by the company.
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Meanwhile, United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) also said that the Starlink onboard Wi-Fi would be offered on more than 300 aircraft in the company's fleet, in an expansion of an earlier agreement between SpaceX and United.
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SpaceX's xAI Merger, IPO Plans
On the other hand, SpaceX recently acquired Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI, with the combined SpaceX-xAI entity valued at close to $1.25 trillion. The move came amid a proposed IPO for SpaceX, which is reportedly set to take place in June this year.
Musk had earlier also predicted that SpaceX's flagship vehicle, the Starship, would be able to launch every hour in three years' time, as solar-powered orbital datacenters and Lunar mission goals continue to be major targets for the billionaire.
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This article Elon Musk Says 'Nothing To Do' With Amazon's Kuiper As Starlink Moves To Offer Free Hardware: 'Trying To Make Starlink More Affordable…' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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