BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Musk’s Starlink Internet free for hurricane victims through 2024

  • Elon Musk owns Starlink, an internet service company
  • Starlink offers an existing free 30-day trial to all customers
  • The new "free" offer for victims requires payment for hardware

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

(NewsNation) — Elon Musk’s internet company Starlink will offer victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton free service through the end of the year, an extension of an initial offer that received internet backlash.

“For those impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, Starlink service is now free through the end of the year to help with response and recovery efforts,” the company said in a post on X, which Musk also owns.

Starlink is described as “internet from space for humans on Earth.” SpaceX, also owned by Musk, engineers it.

The company initially offered Hurricane Helene victims a free month of service, but some would-be customers noticed a price tag that came with it. Even with a $0 monthly fee, the satellite dish would cost a few hundred dollars plus shipping and taxes.

One woman posted to X that her total cost would be $344.52 as a “Helene relief” customer. After 30 days, the subscription would require a monthly payment.

Starlink offers a free 30-day trial to regular customers regardless of hurricane status. A monthly subscription for residential customers costs $120 a month for unlimited data.

Following backlash, the company issued a new offer weeks later that extended the free service through the end of the year for victims of both hurricanes Helene and Milton. The free subscription applies to residential households, both new and existing customers, and provides unlimited data, according to Starlink’s website.

Users must enter their address on their website to see if they qualify for the offer.

“Starlink is providing free service in your area for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton. Select the ‘”Hurricane Relief’ option below for this subscription,” the website says after inputting information. “These will be moved to a paid, residential subscription after the end of the year.”

Like the initial offer, this “free” internet service comes with a $349 charge for the hardware.

Delivery will take about three weeks, according to the website. Current customers who were impacted by the hurricanes must create a support ticket requesting a relief credit.

SpaceX said it has delivered more than 10,000 Starlink kits to Helene victims, as of Oct. 8. The company also said it teamed up with T-Mobile to provide “direct to cell” satellites to provide emergency alerts for all phones and carriers in affected areas. The service works best outdoors, the company said.

Weather

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

62°F Clear Feels like 62°
Wind
4 mph N
Humidity
36%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
52°F Some clouds. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
3 mph N
Precip
0%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous