A SpaceX has unveiled the Starlink Mini, a more portable version of its satellite internet product, small enough to fit in a backpack. The new Starlink Mini compact is approximately the size of a thick laptop and integrates the Wi-Fi router into the antenna. And despite using less power than other Starlink terminals, it can still deliver speeds in excess of 100 Mbps.
SpaceX's Starlink space internet service is now available for boats, planes, Vanlifers, Amazonian villages and rural homes in more than 75 countries. The Starlink portable antenna promises to bring high-speed connectivity to remote and difficult-to-reach areas, democratizing Internet access around the world. The device has already received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US.
Specifications:
Based on information already known, the new antenna will measure 29×25 cm, which will make it approximately the size of an Apple MacBook and extremely portable. Furthermore, this new Starlink Mini antenna incorporates a Wi-Fi router, unlike what currently happens with SpaceX's proposal.
The Starlink Mini will offer download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 11,5 Mbps, with a latency of 23 ms. The integrated Wi-Fi router supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11b/g/n/ax) and has integrated 3x3 MIMO antennas. The Starlink Mini will only have two connectors: a DC plug for the external power supply and an RJ45 network connection. If you need to extend coverage to a wider area, this proposal can be paired with another Starlink router.
Pricing
In the US, Starlink Mini is an add-on to residential plans at least for now. The Mini kit costs 599 USD, which is 100 more than the standard antenna, and it will cost an extra 30 USD per month to add the Mini service Roam to existing $120 residential plans. This gives Starlink Mini users up to 50 GB of mobile data per month, with the option to buy more for $1 per GB, according to early access invitations sent to some US Starlink customers.
