SpaceX is granting a special price cut on Starlink subscriptions for certain customers.
SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink, has introduced a 20% monthly discount for a select group of Residential and Residential Lite users in the United States, Australia, and Indonesia. The offer, communicated via email from the Starlink team, is set to last for six billing cycles after activation.
While the eligibility criteria for the discount remain unclear, it appears to be targeted towards existing customers or those selected by Starlink. Users on the Residential or Residential Lite service plans are eligible for the promotion, but there's no public signup or purchase criteria available.
It's important to note that the discount does not seem to be automatically applied to users in congested areas with surcharges, such as parts of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The discount also does not guarantee a reduction in the steep $1,000 "demand surcharge" on top of regular hardware pricing, pushing upfront costs above $1,300 in some regions.
In some areas with excess capacity, free hardware is being offered to new Starlink users subscribing to the Residential Lite plan with a 12-month commitment. However, the specific details about the eligibility criteria for free hardware have not been disclosed.
The Residential Lite plan, which now costs $80 per month in the U.S., has been reduced to $64 per month thanks to the discount, saving users $96 over six months. The discount does not appear to be limited to North America, as users in Australia and Indonesia have also reported receiving it.
The discount offer comes as Starlink continues to expand its user base, with the service recently surpassing 2 million active subscribers in the U.S. The company is also planning to deploy third-generation Starlink satellites in the first half of 2026, promising significant improvements to the network.
While the reason for the discount is not explicitly stated, it could potentially be an incentive to prevent churn, particularly for users who haven't used their service in a while. However, without official communication from SpaceX, speculation about the reasons behind the discount remains just that – speculation.
In conclusion, the 20% monthly discount on Starlink service is available to select users in the United States, Australia, and Indonesia. Eligibility appears to be based on a Residential plan subscription and selection by Starlink for the promotion, with no publicly available way to apply or guarantee eligibility beyond that.
The discount on Starlink's satellite internet service, providing a saving of $96 over six months for Residential Lite users, may be an attempt to retain customers or encourage usage, but SpaceX has not explicitly stated the reason behind the offer. This reduction in cost applies to users in the fields of science, space-and-astronomy, and technology, as they are the primary demographic for Starlink's services in the specified regions.
