Share Your Starlink Internet With the Community and Earn Income

Starlink wants customers to share their high-speed, low-latency internet with neighbors and says they can even pocket some profit. The satellite internet provider introduced a beta community host program that lets customers essentially sell access to their Starlink internet via Wi-Fi in small increments. 

A new sign-up page explains that Starlink community hosts can let others connect and purchase passes for internet time. Starlink handles payment processing and connectivity, then pays the host. Community members can purchase passes by the hour, day, week, and month. 

Before you start turning your backyard into the newest, hottest internet cafe, the program still has many unknowns. First, you must qualify to become a community host.

At minimum, you must have an active bank account in your name or your business's name, have a registered tax identification number or your country's equivalent, and be willing to complete a U.S. W-8 tax form. The rest of Starlink's qualifications aren't clear, but it does ask where you plan to set up your community site, whether it's for a business, how many people you expect will use it per month, and more.

It's also unclear whether the program will be available in all regions. Also, there are no details on pass prices or what the host's payout would look like.

Reselling services on a Residential or Roam plan violates Starlink's Terms of Service. Starlink has been known to suspend service for accounts if it detects higher-than-normal data usage, determines the user may be using it for business purposes, and urges them to switch to a Priority/Enterprise plan to resume service. 

The community site plan may be a compromise for users who don't want a full business plan but want to distribute access to a modest number of people in their community. Plus, it's another revenue source for Starlink. It's also a way for the company to combat the secondary market for its service, such as owners who rent out their Starlink kits for a profit, another violation of its Terms.  

Depending on the scope of usage you describe in your sign-up form, Starlink may recommend a business plan. The program seems geared toward spaces like community centers, public spaces, rural businesses, single buildings with multiple residences, or multiple households in close proximity. 

An ideal use case could be low-income areas without reliable internet access, where the host's Starlink income contributes to subscription costs and other community needs. It's still hard to tell, since it's unclear what the host's share of the pass revenue will be.