(Photo by NICOLAS GUYONNET/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)To drive more sales of Starlink, SpaceX is expanding its satellite-installation service from 12 states to 35. The option appears if you try to buy a Starlink dish on the residential plan.
The add-on service costs $199, and involves SpaceX partner DSI Systems sending a technician to handle the rooftop installation. Customers who purchase the service will also need to pay for an additional mount, which can range from $38 to $74, to install the dish.
An updated Starlink support page lists the states where the $199 rooftop installation service is being offered, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Although Starlink is easy to set up, permanently installing a satellite dish on a rooftop requires more work and tools; it's also potentially dangerous. As a result, many consumers hire third-party technicians to help them install Starlink dishes on homes and buildings.
Last year, SpaceX began offering its own rooftop installation service through DSI, first in four US states and then 12. The $199 service addresses a hurdle for some consumers who are hesitant about adopting Starlink. SpaceX is now expanding the service across the US as it tries to drive more sales through new discounts, including a residential lite service and even offering consumers a free Starlink dish, as long as they commit to signing up for a year.
However, the rooftop installation service risks taking away business from third-party dish installers, who charge between $275 and $500. They're also concerned the installs from DSI prioritize speed over quality.
In April, SpaceX offered free or discounted rooftop installs for new consumers in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. It seems to have ended that offer, but it’s possible SpaceX is considering free rooftop installations. The checkout page currently says buyers can "have Starlink permanently installed at your residence for free," though it still adds $199 to your cart. It is a mistake? A teaser? We'll have to see.
