Summary

Starlink's satellite Internet service has become available in parts of Canada and the USA, offering global connectivity, but at a high upfront cost of nearly $1,000 CAD for the necessary hardware, with a monthly service fee of$ 129 CAD, which is considered expensive for the average consumer.

Abstract

Starlink, Elon Musk's ambitious project to provide global Internet access, has rolled out its service to select areas in Canada and the USA. The service promises to connect users from remote locations by leveraging a constellation of satellites. However, the excitement of accessing this cutting-edge technology is tempered by the significant cost of entry: $649 CAD for the hardware, which does not include the option to pay in installments, and a monthly fee of$ 129 CAD. The author, a Canadian, was initially eager to subscribe to Starlink but was deterred by the high costs, especially in light of the already exorbitant telecommunications prices in Canada. Despite the service's potential to revolutionize Internet access, the author expresses reservations about the affordability of the service and the lack of flexible payment options.

Opinions

The author is impressed by Starlink's vision and the potential for global Internet connectivity but is concerned about the high cost of the service.
The hardware fee of $649 CAD is seen as too steep, and the lack of installment plans is disappointing, especially given Elon Musk's wealth and the resources of his company.
Canadian consumers face high costs for telecommunications services, and Starlink's pricing is viewed as adding to this financial burden.
The monthly service fee of $129 CAD is considered high, though not prohibitively so, given the unique nature of the service.
The author believes that the terms and conditions of Starlink are generally fair, except for a section that suggests there may be limitations to the availability of services and hardware even after a deposit is made.
Despite the costs, the author acknowledges the innovative nature of Starlink and remains hopeful that the service will become more affordable in the future.

Starlink is Available in My Area, But Elon Musk Wants Almost $1,000 for It

The new fancy Internet is now in Canada and the USA, but how much is it?

If you follow Elon Musk’s innovations and progress, you probably are aware of his goal to provide Internet access to everyone worldwide. Despite a few hiccups along the way, the South African businessman has successfully turned this dream into reality.

Starlink has been launching satellites into orbit over the years — with permission from the government, of course — and it finally became available to selected private entities in Canada and the USA in 2020. And finally, it became available to “regular” people as well. I’m Canadian, and I can attest to that.

I received an email from Starlink on February 24th, 2021, advising the service is now available for order. It didn’t specifically indicate which areas are covered in Canada, but all I had to do was to enter my address and check if I have access to Musk’s Internet:

And low and behold, I did! I don’t live at 1 York Street, as it shows on the screenshot, but my real location was covered as well. The day has come for me to order Starlink and become one of the first thousands of people to test this innovation! But the fees hit me hard.

Don’t get me wrong; I knew that Starlink wouldn’t be cheap. I’m not naive, and I was ready to pay a steep price for the brand new service and the charm-of-the-equipment which can connect me to the World Web at any point on the globe. All you have to do is put it together, point it at the sky — and voila, you are now online from anywhere on the planet! Regardless of living in a remote location, hiking to the top of the mountain, or anywhere else — Starlink should grant you access to the Internet.

Unfortunately, the fees amounted to nearly $1,000, and that’s not the price I’m able to pay today:

The prices are listed in Canadian Dollars, which means it’s less in American: $935.82 CAD it around $700 USD, give or take. But when the exchange rate stopped being in favour of Canadians, it didn’t come with a salary bump or cost of living discount: regardless of how much it costs in USD, it’s more in CAD, and we always have to take that into consideration.

One thing you may not know about Canada is our Internet, and other telecommunications services are extremely expensive. In fact, we are paying nearly the highest price compared to the rest of the world. It’s not unusual to fork out $100 monthly for the Internet. I, myself, am paying $73, and it’s not that pricey. Unless you have a super-great deal of $40–50 per month, your Internet bill is quite high. And even if you are fortunate to take advantage of a deal, deals tend to expire.

In order words, I was ready to pay more for Starlink since it’s a brand new unique service, which would allow me to travel anywhere I want and access the Internet anywhere I go. I’m not surprised that it costs $129 per month, although I wish it was closer to $100 than $150.

The hardware fee, however, is quite steep. I understand it took Starlink years to get to where it is, but $649 CAD (or $515 USD) seems a little bit high. Would you pay $515 USD for the equipment required for the Internet? I probably would have agreed to cover $100 or $200, but not more than that. And while my admiration for new inventions is humongous, I’m afraid $515 is a bit of an overreach.

The unfortunate thing is, Starlink doesn’t offer to break down the fee into multiple payments. First of all, there are services to do that, and if you can amortize your Apple Watch price, you can surely do that for the Internet hardware. Secondly, you would think a company owned by the richest — or sometimes second richest, as Bezos never sleeps — man on Earth would have the means to offer the amortization option. Sadly, it’s not the case.

So, here we have it: you are expected to pay almost $1,000 CAD as you sign up for Starlink and order the equipment.

What else should you consider?

People don’t always read the terms and conditions section. I did that, and so far, I was satisfied with what Starlink I put there. It’s quite standard, and the good news is, you can certainly expect a refund if the services weren’t to your liking:

However, the limitations to the availability section confused me. I suspect that a deposit should obligate the company to provide you with services and hardware:

Apart from that, I didn’t have any concerns.

What did we learn about Starlink?

Let’s make a list:

Their satellite Internet is now available after so many years of waiting. Elon Musk’s invention is finally live.
The beta version is now available in certain parts of Canada and the USA. You can log into their website and check if it’s now in your area.
The monthly cost isn’t low, but not extremely high at the same time.
The hardware is quite expensive, and there is no way to pay in instalments.
The terms and conditions appear normal, apart from the no-guarantee limitations section.

There it is! Should you connect to Starlink? Well, it’s your decision. There are pros and cons, and hopefully, we will see many changes in the coming years. Who knows, maybe a few years from now, Starlink will become more accessible.