SpaceX has opened a waitlist for its Starlink Community Host Beta Program, inviting applicants to propose locations where a single Starlink kit could connect several users. Hosts would help bring connectivity to their communities while earning additional income, according to the company’s application page.
The program, called Starlink Communities, is designed for situations where individual household subscriptions may not be practical or affordable. Potential host sites could include apartment buildings, campgrounds, rural communities, venues and small businesses. A single Starlink dish and router would provide the connection, while nearby users could purchase access for an hour, a day, a week or a month.
Shorter passes would connect one device, while the monthly option would support up to four devices, according to reporting on the new program.
Starlink says it would manage payments, user access and connectivity. Hosts would be responsible for choosing and setting up a site, supplying power and performing basic upkeep. The company’s application asks prospective hosts about their networking experience, proposed location, expected number of monthly users and the price they believe customers would pay for each type of pass.
The initiative could create a new model for satellite internet access in rural or underserved areas, allowing residents or visitors to buy service only when they need it rather than signing up for a full monthly household plan.
However, some details remain unclear. Starlink has not publicly announced a launch date, the countries where the beta will initially operate, pass prices or the share of revenue hosts would receive from each paid connection. Applying through the form does not guarantee acceptance into the beta.
For now, the "Starlink Community Beta Interest Form" appears to be accepting applications from dozens of countries, including the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, where Starlink is already available.
Source: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/starlink-opens-beta-for-community-internet-hosts/
