SpaceX has proposed charging the Pentagon $500 million upfront, plus $100 million per month, to launch and operate a direct-to-cell Starlink service for Iranian civilians. The Department of Defense, apparently, thinks that price tag needs some workshopping.
The pricing fight, explained
Direct-to-cell is Starlink’s technology that lets satellites communicate with ordinary smartphones on the ground, no special terminal required. The idea here is to provide internet access to Iranian civilians during government-imposed communication blackouts.
The $500 million upfront cost would cover the initial deployment and configuration of the service. The $100 million monthly recurring fee would cover ongoing operations. For context, that monthly fee alone would add up to $1.2 billion per year.
A pattern of escalating costs
