Starlink Testing Dynamic Pricing
PC Magazine recently announced it has evidence that Starlink is experimenting with dynamic pricing. Starlink told customers in some markets that their prices might be increased or decreased based on the number of customers in a region. The reporter obtained a notice from Starlink warning that prices could change quarterly based on regional demand. The article cites one Missouri customer who said on Reddit that the price of the $50 plan had been changed to $60.50. There was a Missouri Starlink customer on Facebook who said that the $130 plan had been increased to $156 per month. In both cases, this is a rate increase of roughly 20%.
This is the kind of pricing that has been used for years by airlines to extract the highest possible revenue out of each flight. This may just be my opinion, but I have to think that customers who are charged more because their ISP is doing too well are going to seek out any other ISP. It doesn’t seem like a formula for creating long-term customer trust.
Amazon LEO Broadband by End of the Year
Amazon says it still plans to introduce its initial broadband service before the end of the year. This should be a limited launch that will only cover a portion of the country. The company says that it recently completed the manufacturing of its 1,000th broadband satellite. Amazon currently has around 400 satellites in orbit and is waiting for launch windows to launch more satellites. The company is also hopeful that it will get back on track with launches of its Blue Origin and its New Glenn rockets. The company already has reserved space on several launches that will still happen this year.
FCC Approved Amazon Leo’s Acquisition of Globalstar
The FCC approved Amazon’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar. This will give Amazon an immediate entry into the direct-to-device business of providing cellular service to cellphones. Globalstar will become a fully owned subsidiary of Amazon and will retain its corporate name. Globalstar currently has 54 active satellites in orbit and an aggressive plan for launches in 2027.
SpaceX to Attempt to Capture the Starship Upper Stage
SpaceX is going to attempt the next big improvement in space launch economics by trying to capture both the upper and lower stages from each Starship launch. This will allow the company to develop a rapidly reusable platform to be able to support more satellite launches. Today, the company recovers the booster as it falls back to Earth. The plan to capture the upper stage will involve a complicated maneuver where the upper ship will do a belly flop and enter a controlled descent, where the upper ship will then be captured by chopstick-like arms extended from a tower.
FAA To Streamline Launch Rules
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to streamline regulations for commercial space launches and re-entries. The agency is creating an online portal that will allow automated launch applications, giving more flexibility to change when launch windows change due to weather or technical issues. The White House has said that it wants the country to have the ability to have 1,000 launches and re-entries per year by 2030. To put that into context, there were 178 launches in 2025. The launch rules are a big deal because commercial airlines have to avoid the flight paths due to the potential for debris when launches go poorly, as we’ve seen a few times in recent years. Airlines must be cringing at the idea of somehow scheduling around 1,000 events per year.