Musk's Starlink Embraces 'Dynamic Pricing,' Further Jacking Up Costs(www.techdirt.com)
5 pointsby cdrnsf2 hours ago1 comment
  • jqpabc1232 hours ago
    Google, Meta and Musk --- you are not their "customers". You are cattle on their ranch and you will be milked for everything they can get.

    It may look like a good deal at first but looks can be deceiving. Ultimately, the ranch is not run to benefit the cattle.

    • andsoitisan hour ago
      This is silly. In a market, price is a function of what the producer tries to get and the customer is willing to pay.
      • jqpabc123an hour ago
        This is silly. The very concept of a "market" assumes independent competition.

        The marketplace competition for these companies either doesn't exist or has been largely eliminated or circumvented.

        For example, Starlink is part of SpaceX. SpaceX has $22 billion in government contracts. No other independent company can reasonably compete with this level of government subsidy.

        • andsoitis27 minutes ago
          > This is silly. The very concept of a "market" assumes independent competition.

          A better way to think about the scope of this market is “internet access” rather than “satellite internet access”. Even in the latter case, nothing is preventing others from entering that market. Starlink has been visionary and audacious so they can command a premium. That’s the market in action.

          • jqpabc123a few seconds ago
            A better way to think

            So when "free market" ideals don't apply, just re-define the market? How convenient.

            "Satellite internet access" is what they offer and "satellite internet customers" with no other reasonable alternative and are the ones being milked.

            Even in the latter case, nothing is preventing others from entering that market.

            Except for the fact that Starlink is heavily subsidized by government contracts.

        • johngan hour ago
          There's a big difference between subsidies and being an actual customer. The government is both.

          That's like saying if the government is buying a vehicle from Ford, they are subsidizing Ford. They are different things.

          • jqpabc123an hour ago
            Really? So if government buys $22 billion from Ford and only Ford, they are *not* subsidizing Ford? Pollyanna much?