It's easy to use the free server at matrix.org. For $5/month you can get a hosted server from EMS with optional bridges to Signal/Telegram/WhatsApp.
Or another paid provider: https://matrix.org/hosting/
Or another paid provider: https://matrix.org/hosting/
The good thing about having the federated protocol is that people can use different providers and change providers without destroying the network effects.
It's perfectly fine if most people end up using one of very few big providers as long as all providers support federation.
I think we have to make a distinction between personal communication and mass communication. The former is a question of privacy. The latter is a question of political freedoms.