In the Wake of Hurricane Helene, Elon Musk Offers SpaceX Starlink - But With a Twist
Starlink satellite internet service, offered by Elon Musk, to aid Hurricane Helene victims will incur a minimum cost of $400.
In typical Elon Musk fashion, Hurricane Helene became an opportunity for him to shine in the limelight, announcing a promise that SpaceX Starlink would be available free of charge to affected areas with compromised fiber and cellular infrastructure. Yet, as The Register has uncovered in an investigative piece, this seemingly generous offer is fraught with catches.
To reap the benefits of SpaceX's satellite-based internet service, individuals are still required to pay approximately $400 for the installation kit (shipping and taxes included) and agree to a $120 per-month contract once the free month ends.
Residents in Boone, North Carolina, as The Register discovered through interviews, have expressed reservations about the offer. Kinney Baughman, a local resident, points out that many communities ravaged by Hurricane Helene may not require such a service if their conventional infrastructure can be restored within the estimated 2-3 week delivery time of a Starlink dish.
Another comedic logistical problem arises when one realizes that a data connection is required to order and activate the Starlink deal—ironically, implying that data connectivity might already be restored for some affected areas.
Furthermore, many residents of the disaster-stricken areas lack the necessary power sources for the Starlink dish, as they would require generators, an appliance not commonly owned by the average individual.
Predominately, those already subscribed to Starlink are not receiving the same offer. They must reach out to customer service in hopes of securing a 30-day waiver. The Starlink community frequently complaints about SpaceX's notoriously slow customer service.
Despite its effectiveness in war-torn countries like Ukraine, where the army received completely free service, SpaceX reportedly exercised its unilateral control to discontinue service in Crimea and eventually coerced the U.S. government into covering the bill.
While Musk's latest offer has not caused a distraction as some of his previous ventures, such as the DIY submarine meant to rescue the boys trapped in a cave in Thailand or the ventilators donated during the early stages of COVID that were later found to be mislabeled, it has raised questions regarding the practicality and accessibility of the SpaceX Starlink service.
Starlink, indeed, is a valuable asset, but the reality of these promotions often fails to live up to the image Musk projects.
- Despite the promise of free usage for affected areas, individuals still need to pay around $400 for the Starlink installation kit and commit to a $120 monthly contract after the first month.
- Residents in areas hit by Hurricane Helene question the necessity of SpaceX Starlink, especially if their conventional infrastructure can be repaired within the estimated delivery time of a Starlink dish.
- A data connection is required to order and activate the Starlink deal, which poses an ironic challenge as many disaster-stricken areas may already have some form of data connectivity restored.
- Those already using Starlink are not receiving the same offer and must navigate SpaceX's slow customer service to potentially secure a 30-day waiver.