Starlink expands to trains, airlines and remote regions as prices rise

Portugal’s national rail operator CP began a pilot of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet on its Alfa Pendular high‑speed trains, reporting that the service supplied about 19 % of onboard traffic and performed well in areas with weak mobile coverage.

United Airlines launched its first trans‑Atlantic wide‑body flight equipped with Starlink on June 22, connecting Newark to London on a Boeing 777‑200. The airline plans to outfit up to 1 000 aircraft, including regional jets and narrow‑bodies, by year‑end, offering the service free to MileagePlus members.

In Europe, Starlink’s recent price hikes have sparked criticism, with monthly fees rising from €40 to €65 for high‑speed plans in markets such as Portugal and Greece. Users and regulators have raised concerns about reduced competition and the impact on households in remote or underserved areas.

Tests in Finland showed the service delivering 200‑400 Mbps download speeds and low latency even in harsh winter storms, with monthly subscription costs around €60 and equipment priced in the few‑hundred‑euro range. Operators highlighted the system’s value as a backup or primary link for isolated sites, construction sites and emergency communications.

Law‑enforcement agencies, including the U.S. FBI, have used Starlink’s capabilities to dismantle criminal networks operating from remote locations, while the satellite constellation also assists in early detection of wildfires in Canada, demonstrating applications beyond consumer broadband.