How to get Elon Musk’s Starlink internet up and running in the UAE
The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) granted Starlink a 10-year license.
The UAE has formally paved the way for the consumer rollout of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite services.
SpaceX, is owned by serial entrepreneur Elon Musk, and the availability of services have been met with much fanfare across the UAE.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are already reporting that they are ‘at capacity’ – and have now requesting deposits for users to go on a waiting list.
The consumer Starlink satellite services come packaged in a simple flat pack, that contains an antenna, cable and router.
They are flying off the shelves since the UAE’s telecommunications regulator gave the green light to the SpaceX service, and issued them a 10-year license.
Starlink has delivered reliable high-speed internet to some of the most remote locations in the world, where traditional broadband networks are either unavailable or unreliable.
Musk has been on a mission to bridge the ‘digital divide’ as there are millions of people across the world who still don’t have any access to the internet.
In addition to the demand from consumers across the UAE, the move also marks an important milestone for the country.
It adds a space-based layer to the country’s national digital infrastructure which only serves to further complement its terrestrial fibre-optic and 5G networks.
The TDRA’s decision to granted Starlink a license, also enables the company to establish and run a public satellite-communications network and offer broadband internet under UAE regulatory and technical requirements.
The new licence that has been granted puts the Starlink service on a solid formal legal and regulatory footing for UAE consumers.
The licence has also now ushering in an era where a wider set of uses than household broadband are now available across the country.
They include things such as:
- Residential connections for individuals.
- Connectivity for businesses and government entities.
- Maritime service for vessels.
- Aviation connectivity for aircraft.
This further enhances the license’s strategic and economic significance and broadens its impact across key productive sectors of the UAE,” the TDRA said in a statement.
How much does it cost?
In the UAE, residential offers start at $81 (AED300) a month.
There is also the option of ‘Residential Lite’, which is priced competitively at $63 (AED230) a month.
The cost for roaming services start at $51 (AED190) a month, and that provides users with a data cap of 100GB.
For those wanting an unlimited service, then the cost of that would set you back $100 (AED370) a month.
The standard hardware kit has been priced at at $398 )AED 1,465 a month.
How does the cost compare to other markets?
Generally speaking, the UAE rates are very competitive compared to other markets where SpaceX’s Starlink services are commercially available.
For example, a Starlink Standard Kit costs $513 in the Philippines.
In the United States, a standard Starlink kit costs $349 to $499 to purchase outright, depending on retail sales and promotions.
Credits & Disclaimer: This article are credited to the Associated Press, it's authors and editors. Likewise, the images are for illustration purposes only and credited all to their respective owners. The accuracy of the article is subject from the information grabbed from the sources at the time of posting this article.
