No, Starlink isn't actually 'free' for Hurricane Helene victims

Elon Musk's 30-day offer of free Starlink internet to the thousands of displaced and disconnected Hurricane Helene victims isn't as good as it sounds.

First reported by the Register and Gizmodo earlier this week, the "free" Starlink trial is more like a classic marketing ploy than a legitimate option for disconnected residents. The offer doesn't include the satellite internet's required hardware — including a $350 Starlink terminal kit — and, at the end of the 30 days, customers could be auto-enrolled in the $120-per-month subscription plan.

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"Please note," the Hurricane Helene support page reads. "A Starlink kit is required to access this free service. If you do not already have a Starlink kit, you will need to purchase one from starlink.com/residential or an authorized retailer such as Best Buy or Home Depot." The offer does extend a 30-day credit to existing customers, however. But they still have to create a help ticket in order to receive a waiver at an undetermined date, according to the company.

All of this is gambling on individuals having access to stable electricity or generators. One week after Hurricane Helene's devastation, more than 850,000 residents across seven states were still powerless, and restoration efforts are ongoing as a second storm, destructive Hurricane Milton, just touched down in Florida.

Despite the company's promotional bait and switch, Starlink's emergency services are helping humanitarian efforts, with the federal government deploying emergency Starlink satellites and dozens of ground devices to support relief organizations in the region. On Tuesday, Starlink announced it was unlocking Direct to Cell satellites, which enables SMS text messaging, for T-Mobile users ahead of Hurricane Milton.