<p><strong>SpaceX</strong> CEO <strong>Elon Musk</strong> says that the company's satellite internet service, <strong>Starlink</strong>, is targeting a broader customer base with its latest move.</p>



<h2>Starlink To Offer Free Hardware</h2>



<p>In a post on the social media platform X on Monday, a handle called X Daily News posted that the satellite internet service provider was &#34;aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners,&#34; also adding that Starlink's move could be in response to <strong>Amazon.com Inc.</strong>'s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Kuiper's (Amazon Leo) imminent arrival.</p>



<p>Amazon's <strong>Leo</strong>, which was earlier called Project Kuiper, recently sought an extension from the <strong>Federal Communications Commission</strong> (FCC) to deploy its satellites in orbit. </p>



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<blockquote><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starlink is aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners, The Information reports.<br/><br/>The moves are timed ahead of SpaceX's planned IPO and the debut of Amazon Kuiper, locking in customers before competition intensifies.https://t.co/g8ZCq8LyHX…</p>— X Daily News (@xDaily) February 23, 2026</blockquote>
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<h2>Elon Musk Confirms Move</h2>



<p>Responding to the post, Musk confirmed Starlink's move to cut prices and offer free hardware. &#34;This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we're just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience,&#34; the billionaire said.</p>



<p>He also confirmed that the move was targeting customers in developing countries. &#34;The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don't have much money, especially in the developing world,&#34; he said.</p>



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<blockquote><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we're just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience. <br/><br/>The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don't have much money, especially in the developing world.</p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2026</blockquote>
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<h2>Starlink's Direct-To-Cell EU Plans, On-Flight Wi-Fi</h2>



<p>The news comes as Starlink announced it will offer direct-to-cell connectivity in the European Union following a deal with Spanish telecom operator <strong>MasOrange</strong>. The agreement would see trials for the service initially beginning in the Spanish province of Valladolid.</p>



<p>The company had earlier signed a deal with Ukrainian telecom operator <strong>Kyivstar Group Ltd. </strong>(NASDAQ:KYIV) after testing for direct-to-cell connectivity had been underway for over a year by the company.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, <strong>United Airlines Holdings Inc. </strong>(NASDAQ:UAL) also said that the Starlink onboard Wi-Fi would be offered on more than 300 aircraft in the company's fleet, in an expansion of an earlier agreement between SpaceX and United.</p>



<h2>SpaceX's xAI Merger, IPO Plans</h2>



<p>On the other hand, SpaceX recently acquired Musk's artificial intelligence startup <strong>xAI</strong>, with the combined SpaceX-xAI entity valued at close to $1.25 trillion. The move came amid a proposed IPO for SpaceX, which is reportedly set to take place in June this year.</p>



<p>Musk had earlier also predicted that SpaceX's flagship vehicle, the Starship, would be able to launch every hour in three years' time, as solar-powered orbital datacenters and Lunar mission goals continue to be major targets for the billionaire.</p>



<p><em>Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by</em> following this link.</p>



<p><em>Photo courtesy: Shutterstock</em></p>

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<p>SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that Starlink will offer free hardware and cut prices to attract a wider customer base, particularly in developing countries. This move is seen as a strategy to secure customers ahead of Amazon's Kuiper satellite service launch. Musk emphasized that the decision is not a response to Kuiper but aims to make Starlink more affordable. Additionally, Starlink plans to provide direct-to-cell connectivity in the EU and expand onboard Wi-Fi services with United Airlines. SpaceX is also preparing for an IPO and has recently acquired Musk's AI startup xAI.</p>

- Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, is cutting prices and offering free hardware to expand its customer base, particularly targeting developing countries.  
- This initiative comes as a response to Amazon's Kuiper project and ahead of SpaceX's anticipated IPO, aiming to secure customers before competition increases.  
- Additionally, Starlink is launching direct-to-cell connectivity in the EU and enhancing in-flight Wi-Fi services in partnership with United Airlines.

Elon Musk Says 'Nothing To Do' With Amazon's Kuiper As Starlink Moves To Offer Free Hardware: 'Trying To Make Starlink More Affordable…'