SpaceX has started sending out offers to individual customers to purchase its new Starlink Mini compact satellite dish for $599. This is significantly higher than the $250-$300 level previously hinted at by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Starlink Mini is much smaller than the standard Starlink antenna and can easily fit into a backpack. It is equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi router and a connector for connecting to the electrical network. The Mini also supports power from an external charger or power bank via USB-C, as long as the power source is at least 100W, PCMag reports. However, for this you will need to purchase an additional cable from SpaceX.

Starlink Mini is not only smaller in size, but also offers more modest data transfer speeds of just over 100 Mbps (compared to up to 200 Mbps on the standard model); but the monthly fee for Internet access via Mini is only $30.

For now, only US residents who receive a special invitation from SpaceX can order this compact antenna. At the same time, the company is positioning the current high price of $599 as a temporary measure due to limited production capacity. In the future, it is planned to significantly reduce the cost of the device, especially for regions with less developed internet infrastructure.

There are other restrictions for Starlink Mini owners besides the price. Specifically, they are only entitled to 50GB of traffic per month for mobile Internet roaming in the US. Each subsequent gigabyte costs $1. Other terms state that users are prohibited from using the mini-dish while on the go or terminating monthly roaming service.

Despite its seemingly compact size and attractive price in terms of traffic, the new Starlink Mini antenna is not yet a full-fledged alternative to the standard model. But as production and infrastructure expand, SpaceX promises to make the Mini more affordable and functional. Sales of the device started in the USA.