SpaceX recently launched 58 more of its Starlink high-speed internet satellites into space, bringing its total fleet to 540 satellites in orbit. Though SpaceX’s FCC filing in late May proposed to launch as many as 30,000 Starlink satellites, the company has started inviting users to apply to become beta testers.
With Starlink, the company is targeting service in the Northern U.S. and Canada in 2020. By 2021, the company has plans to expand to near global coverage of the populated world.
Starlink promises to “deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.”
As mentioned on the website, you are required to fill out a form for an email address and zip code in order to receive updates on Starlink news and service availability in your area. The form allows prospective customers to apply for updates and access to a public beta test of the Starlink service, as reported by ZDNet.
SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk earlier said that the company will need at least 400 Starlink satellites in space to offer “minor” broadband coverage, and at least 800 to provide “moderate” coverage, ZDNet added.
Starlink will reportedly cost you about $80 per month.