Unlimited satellite internet with no commitment to loyalty for just €29 per month. This is what Starlink is already offering next to Portugal, in Spain.
The SpaceX satellite communications company's new basic plan is ideal for remote locations that do not have access to other internet services.
Cheaper Internet, but “Deprioritized”
Recently, Spain had already seen a reduction in the costs of Starlink's normal service, with the monthly fee rising to €40/month and the antenna costing €225. The launch of the new basic plan should be well received by the Spanish, given its price and benefits.
For €29/month, subscribers have access to unlimited satellite internet. But be careful, there is a not exactly pleasant condition. Starlink made it clear that the new plan is what it called “Deprioritized.” In other words, subscribers who pay the €40 monthly fee will have a higher quality service.
This means speeds on the basic €29 plan may be slower during peak hours. Still, the company has not established a limit on data quota, and satellite internet comes as a solution for places that other fixed internet services cannot reach.
Spain with government support and Portugal with a more expensive plan
Currently, Spain has the UNICO-Banda Ancha government program, which aims to bring high-speed internet to the entire Spanish territory.
Through the Digital Infrastructure Universalization Program for Cohesion (UNICO), Spaniards have subsidized access to connections of up to 100 Mbps. This represents a major advance, as, according to official data, only 65% of the country has coverage with speeds of up to 30 Mbps, with rural areas being the most difficult to reach.
With Starlink, Elon Musk brings another option (and competition). The company offers unlimited data packages in the Priority plan, ranging from 40 GB (93 euros) to 6 TB (1,060 euros). However, it is important to highlight that this plan is intended for fixed locations and aimed at companies, as the cost of the equipment is 10 times higher than the amount that the normal user will pay (€2,389).
This option is now available in Portugal, but there is still no information on when Starlink may start offering its basic €29/month plan. Now that the cheap service has arrived in the neighboring country, the Portuguese people's expectations are rising. Just like in Spain, the new satellite internet option can benefit rural areas.
In Portugal, Starlink already offers internet packages in partnership with Vodafone.