Elon Musk’s SpaceX, owner of the Starlink satellite internet service, is offering a 50% discount on internet plans in Memphis, Tennessee, according to a statement the company posted online Tuesday.
The company did not specifically explain why it is offering the discount, but it could have something to do with community anger over data centers owned by xAI, which SpaceX purchased earlier this year. The company noted that it owns data centers in Memphis and nearby Southhaven, Mississippi, likely part of a public relations push to associate something positive with the company that is getting so much pushback in the area.
“Starlink is discounting service for our neighbors in the Memphis area,” the company said in its advertisement. “Earlier this year, SpaceX acquired xAI (now SpaceXAI), which operates the Colossus data centers in Memphis and Southaven. As SpaceX continues to invest in the Memphis area, we are applying a discount to eligible Starlink monthly service plans.”
The Memphis data center is powered by gas turbines, which local environmental activists warn is contributing to pollution in the area. The methane gas turbines were reportedly installed without public notice, proper permits or necessary air pollution controls. according the Southern Environmental Law Center and the NAACP.
The NAACP sued xAI in April over the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis, alleging the technology company has been illegally operating the gas turbines and violating the Clean Air Act.
“xAI’s decision to install and operate dozens of polluting gas turbines without any permits or public oversight is a clear violation of the Clean Air Act,” Patrick Anderson, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement. published online.
Eligibility for discounted Starlink service depends on the direction of service, and an online map shows coverage in Memphis, Southhaven and Collierville. As Bloomberg As you point out, Starlink pricing can range from $55 to $130 per month, depending on the plan.
SpaceX went public earlier this month, catapulting founder Elon Musk to billionaire status. The stock price has been on a rollercoaster ride since its recent debut, but it has spent the last few days recovering. The stock closed at just over $170 on Tuesday, down from a high of $201 on June 16. Forbes lists Musk’s estimated net worth at $1.1 trillion, below 1.4 trillion dollars on June 16. There is no denying that Musk’s net worth is closely tied to SpaceX’s stock price.
xAI representatives did not respond to emailed questions Tuesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we receive a response.
