Many RVers have embraced Starlink’s satellite-based internet service. It seems like the perfect match for us, with access to relatively high-speed internet service anywhere we go. However, it comes with a costly catch: a Starlink mini-dish, the required hardware, costs $499 upfront. Then there’s the monthly fee—for RVers’ needs, either $50 a month (with limited data use) or $165 a month (with no data limits). An alternative, lower-cost solution is just about to roll out: Amazon’s Project Kuiper, or satellite internet.
April 9 will see major launch for Amazon satellite internet
Project Kuiper is launching its first batch of low-earth-orbiting satellites on April 9—weather permitting. Amazon has already set up 80 launch missions, and each one will loft dozens of satellites. In the end, Amazon satellite internet will be a force for Starlink to reckon with. Amazon says it will start offering service “later this year.”
What about costs?
What’s the bottom line for RVers interested in Amazon satellite internet? Getting into the game with what Amazon describes as “Our ultra-compact model,” (less than 11 inches square) will cost less than $400. Amazon says it “provides speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps).” If the roaming system cost, say, $399, then the Amazon hardware system is at least 20% less than Starlink’s system.
And those monthly fees? The company coyly doesn’t offer an actual dollar figure. “Amazon hasn’t announced pricing details yet, but affordability is a key principle of Project Kuiper,” says a company statement. “Amazon has a longstanding commitment to low prices, and lots of experience building popular, low-cost devices like Echo Dot and Fire TV Stick. We’re applying a similar approach with Project Kuiper.”
Marketing expert predicts monthly charges
While “pricing details” aren’t officially available, that hasn’t prevented outsiders from speculating. In 2023, Peter Cohan, an expert in management practice with Babson College, did some projections on Starlink versus Amazon satellite internet charges. “I would not be surprised if Amazon charges $1,000 per subscriber per year,” Cohan said in a story carried by Yahoo Finance. “This low price would be attracting new subscribers in the $1 trillion market. What’s more, Amazon is likely to offer a range of prices for different tiers of service.”
Cohan was discussing satellite internet residential service. At that time (2023), Starlink residential service was about what it is now, $120 per month for unlimited data usage. If the $1,000 per year price projection held true for Amazon’s residential (non-mobile) service, then Amazon’s service would be about a third less. If the same numbers hold true for Amazon’s roaming service, than you could project a monthly charge in the neighborhood of $110.
Interested in Amazon satellite internet service? It’s too early to tell how quickly RVers will be able to sign up. You can learn more about Project Kuiper and the progress it’s making here.
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##RVT1203
Boycott Starlink.
Who knew that the laundry was active on RVTravel ?
You can’t fix stupid!
True, but you can impeach him.
AMEN to that.
I think I’ll add a 2nd Starlink subscription.
A boycott would be preferable to the liberal left’s terror of burning privately owned vehicles and progressive’s vandalizing of privately owned dealerships. You know the ones, the self proclaimed virtuous folks in the compassionate crowd of Betas.
Comparable to the occupation of the Whitehouse and subsequent pardon of the right wing lug nuts.
Can you imagine a Democratic president pardoning idiots burning Tesla cars or vandalizing the dealerships?
The problem is Tim, that you cannot even come close to making an equivalent comparison to the left wing loons keying PRIVATELY owned vehicles, torching of cars on dealer’s lots or scratching hateful speech into the paint jobs. You can try, but it is impossible to present an equivalency of the right, to what the the left wing loons are doing now.
Try, really, try. You can’t because none exist, BETA.
Didn’t a bunch of democrats get preemptive pardons for crimes they may or may not have committed?
because…….??
Of course you mrpavet would be the first to make it political…Why don’t you simply learn something instead of being angry?
The refurbished Mini is available for $349. Same warranty as New.
I wonder just how many low earth satellites can be orbiting the earth at one time.
Starlink has over 7,000 now, with more to come. If Amazon does the same, there will be a traffic jam in space.
Bezos and Musk are going to be in major competition to fill the skies.
120 Starlink satellites fell to earth just in January. Most of these were intentionally dropped out of orbit.
The sky is falling!
Did they “drop to earth” or burn up on entry? I think the latter.
I share the concern about the amount of stuff “up there.” But, as usual, “we the people” seem to want it since we want 100% connection and have money to burn.
Personally, I’ll just stick with my $25 a month Visible by Verizon phone with hotspot that is unlimited talk, text, and data with great signal and speed 98% of the time. The other 2% of time isn’t worth the added cost to me.
“We the people” aren’t going to have money to burn much longer.
Either way they are entering the atmosphere. Plus, they may be a danger of them hitting an airliner flying at 35,000-40,000 feet.
I was thinking the same thing! Then my husband pointed out that space is pretty big. If each satellite is as big as a house or even larger, that’s still like 7000 houses spread on the surface of the earth. Obviously, there’s room for a lot more without filling up the skies. Just saying… 😉 I’d love to get Starlink someday, but our travel schedule is so erratic that it isn’t worth it for us. I guess it’s Starbucks instead of Starlink right now when I need internet!
Yes, space is big. 100,000 satelites in space would be the equivalent of 100,000 bathtub rubber duckies floating in the Pacific. They would never come within 10 miles of each other.
In aviation, we call it the Big Sky theory. 😎
Love your comment Ccg! 😄
We have both home and roaming Starlink, ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM. Starlink works for us with no problems, see no need to purchase new equipment for 10% to 20% savings. The roaming service can be cancelled when not in use. Did I mention that Starlink simply works and works very well?
I welcome the competition. And the advent of private space ventures is as interesting to me as my youthful interest in our NASA Mercury/Gemini/Apollo/Space Shuttle programs. Speculating about pricing is ridiculous this early in the game. There is no mention of launch costs nor whether ULA will be implementing re-usable boosters as Space X has. I see no uptempo launch numbers which will dictate how many years it will take to make the internet service viable with full time coverage over populated latitudes. And I assume there will have to be a significant number of ground stations if the overall system design is like Starlink. But pretty neat! I’m glad the US is in the lead here.
Great comment George! …and useful!! 🇺🇸
As an RV’er and an amateur astronomer, the last thing I want to see is more junk in space.
I keep thinking Elon might put up some space telescopes for institutional and public/hobbyist use via internet as a solution to this problem.
Or turn them to watch everyone on earth. It is being done now, but adding thousands more?
Also, amateurs have the ability to choose what they want in the sky. Will Musk let them do that with his satellites?
Your statement is literally and figuratively the most Chicken Little comment I have ever read in the RVtravel.com news columns. Absolute hysteria and hysterically funny at the same time. OMG. 🤣😂😅🤣😂😅🤣😂
So funny, hahaha…LOLOLOL.
Great, two of the most beloved people in America owning L.E.O.
Bringing Kessler Syndrome closer to reality.
Sounds good. We refuse to put another penny in Musk’s pocket, so an alternative, and one that’s less expensive as well, is great.
Musk is involved in so many things, some of which will improve your life. Maybe even save your life. Be sure to sign a do not resuscitate form if a Musk invention/idea is involved.
Well done, Ken!!! Isn’t that just the simple truth of it…… an “opt out”option, should be available.
Once again RVers and truck drivers get screwed. I can get 100Gbps speeds and unlimited usage at home for 50 a month. I get tired of people charging more just because it’s portable. Grandfather’s in, I get 100GB at 5g speeds, usually in excess of 100Gbps for $50 a month from AT&T prepaid
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! “First movers” are expected to make profits that attract others to enter the industry. Alternately, later movers have an opportunity to learn from “first-mover” mistakes. These sure are interesting times. Have a great week and safe travels!
I have phone with a hot spot that does everything I need. Why would I or anyone need more. I can understand people needing internet for working but remember RV stands for recreational vehicle. If it was for a work vehicle, it would be called a WV. Sometimes you can’t have your cake and eat in too. Just my opinion.
Some people use RVs for other reasons than “recreational”…🤔
I long for the times in the not too distant past that I could read comments about RVs and not politics. I get enough of that other places. I wish folks would keep their political opinions to themselves instead of resorting to name calling and hate. There are sites that are just concerned with politics. This site is about RVing. I learned a lot about the do and don’ts on this site when I first started RVing without the political commentary.
Dan, we try our best to keep the comments civil and relevant. But sometimes we let comments go because “everybody is entitled to their opinion.” But readers who are repeatedly mean/angry — we delete some of their comments, and on rare occasions ban a reader from further commenting.
Dan, this article is about internet service…and MOST RVers ARE interested in this type of article.
I have the T-Mobile Home Internet service dedicated just for my RV. I have traveled all over the Southwest with great download speeds always much faster than the RV Park. The great thing is I only pay $30 per month and have unlimited data. Yes someday T-Mobile will jerk some of these Gateways back if you are using them outside your zip code where it was intended to be used. When that day comes I will fall back to my cell phone at no additional cost and still have excellent internet service with unlimited data and watch Netflix until the cows come home. I never use the “Hotspot” on my phone because that has limited data.