SpaceX’s Starlink is shaking things up with a new rental-only model for its satellite dishes in certain parts of Iowa, giving new residential customers the opportunity to receive a free dish with professional installation included at no extra cost.
Typically, Starlink requires customers to purchase their dish outright in order to subscribe to its satellite internet service. However, in specific areas of Iowa, the company is testing a different approach by offering the hardware for rent at $0 per month instead of for sale. A Reddit user discovered the change on Starlink’s website, where eligible Iowa addresses now have the option for a rental-only setup for new signups.
Under this new promotion, new customers only need to pay $20 for shipping plus taxes, with no requirement to buy the equipment. The hardware is categorized as a rental with a monthly cost of $0, and the package includes complimentary professional installation by a Starlink technician. The offer stipulates that if service is canceled, the Starlink hardware rental must be returned.
This unconventional move falls in line with SpaceX’s broader mission to make it easier for new users to join. In recent weeks, Starlink reduced the price of its standard dish to $89 USD in the U.S. and $249 CAD in Canada, alongside decreased rates for Residential plans. The company is also providing free Mini dishes to select Residential customers in the U.S., Canada, and Australia as part of an ongoing promotion.
Starlink’s aggressive pricing strategy, which includes slashing dish prices, introducing free rentals, and offering complimentary Mini kits, demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its user base and suggests that SpaceX may be preparing for a hardware update by clearing out older inventory.
It remains to be seen whether the rental-only model will expand beyond Iowa or how eligibility is determined. Starlink recently reached over seven million users in 150 countries and territories worldwide, and this latest experiment could help the company connect with even more customers in underserved areas.