Many people worldwide have been renting out their Starlink kits to earn money. Twitter user Austen Allred said, “People are ‘renting them out’ for $25-$30/day. Guy has 7 of them, all fully rented. He’s clearing out almost $5k/month by renting out Starlinks.” Search online, and you may find people offering similar services in your country.
Starlink has been helping people take full advantage of the Internet worldwide. For example, it has provided Ukrainian civilians with satellite internet. However, Elon Musk’s company restricts people from using its online connectivity for military purposes. Does the tech innovator have similar rules for renting his internet kits?
Read this article before turning Starlink rentals into your next online hustle. I will discuss how to rent a satellite kit properly. Later, I will explain how people have profited from them and why they may violate Starlink’s Terms and Conditions.
How to rent Starlink kits properly
Photo Credit: teslarati.com
The Starlnk company provides a proper way of renting its satellite internet kits. For example, PCMag reported it charges a $18 or £15 monthly rental fee in the United Kingdom. Follow these official instructions:
- Head to www.starlink.com.
- Next, enter your address in the Service Address search bar.
- Then, click the Order Now button.
- Wait until the website redirects you to the order page.
- Next, select the Rent option beside Own.
- Enter your info and click on the Place Order button.
- Wait until you receive your confirmation code to enter the order confirmation page.
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Starlink rentals not approved by the company may violate its terms and conditions. Article 10.1 says, “You may not assign, sell, or transfer this Agreement, software installed on the Starlink Kit, or access to Services without Starlink’s consent as described under Section 6.5. Unauthorized transfers or assignments will be null and void.”
Also, 10.2 indicates, “You cannot use an agent or any other representatives to purchase the Services or deal with Starlink, except where an agent or representative is (a) a household or family member, or personal caregiver, of the account holder, (b) an employee, director or officer of the account holder; or (c) any other person expressly approved by Starlink.”
Unfortunately, these instructions are only available in European countries at the time of writing. They aren’t available in the United States and Australia, Starlink’s biggest markets.
Why are people renting out their Starlink devices?
Business Insider reported this trend on August 5, 2023. The publication cited the X public message of Bloomtech CEO Austen Allred, who claims people rent them out for $25 to $30 daily.
Starlink uses satellite internet to provide fast speeds worldwide. Also, they are relatively convenient for travel because the kit is roughly the size of a small table.
Consequently, some purchased internet kits and rented them out to vacationers and remote workers. Instead of paying $99 monthly, they could pay roughly $25 to $30.
Allred claimed an unnamed satellite internet user has been making $5,000 monthly from this method. However, he has not confirmed that person’s take-home earnings at the time of writing.
Head to Facebook Marketplace, and many people try the same online hustle. In the United States, Starlink rentals have the same monthly cost and charge $599 for equipment and $110 depending on monthly plans.
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Thomas Sands told the publication he tried the online hustle after seeing Allred’s X message. Moreover, McKenzie Coffman realized the market potential of Starlink rentals after lending his to a friend.
He told Insider he paid $600 for the hardware and $135 monthly for the mobile subscription. Coffman claimed, “It’s the new ‘AirBnB’ of mobile internet. No one wants to pay $600 for the equipment to use it once a year.”
One Facebook ad said, “Starlink is a great way to ensure that you can stay connected while you take your time to disconnect and relax, be it for emergency situations, leisure during winding down, access to music and movies on the go, or doing your WFH tasks so you don’t have to burn vacation days while you have your getaway!”
Conclusion
Starlink rentals have been trending on social media. They offer vacationers and remote workers a cheaper alternative to purchasing a satellite kit. However, following Starlink’s official method is ideal.
Renting them out without the company’s permission could violate terms and conditions. However, the official method isn’t available in the US and Australia at the time of writing.
Numerous tech firms have been developing new wireless internet technologies so that connectivity may become more affordable soon. Check out the latest digital tips and trends at Inquirer Tech.
Frequently asked questions about Starlink rentals
Is Starlink available in the Philippines?
You can order a Starlink kit in the Philippines for ₱29,320, and you must pay a monthly service fee of ₱2,700. However, the company offers kits for ₱19,999 until August 31, 2023. Moreover, its satellite internet service has been helping remote areas. For example, it helps the indigenous communities of Koronadal City to maintain their culture.
Are there Starlink rentals in the Philippines?
You can find numerous Filipinos offering Starlink rentals on Facebook Marketplace. Most charge around ₱80 to ₱100 daily, but that range may depend due to various factors. However, these could violate the company’s terms and conditions. Read and understand these to properly use your kit.
Are there other satellite internet providers?
Starlink isn’t the only tech company that provides satellite internet services. For example, Astranis will bring satellite internet to two million Filipinos. Also, other companies are developing alternative wireless internet technologies. For example, Google Project Taara uses lasers to transmit internet connectivity to remote areas.