A workaround for using Starlink in heavily congested areas is facing a new restriction that could block customers from the satellite internet service and force them to pay more.
At issue is the Starlink Roam plan, which lets you use the satellite internet in more than one location. It’s also long been a way for customers to receive access if the residential Starlink plan is currently waitlisted or “sold out” for their area. But recently, users noticed a new condition for Starlink that can potentially restrict internet access for a Roam subscriber in a congested area.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
SpaceX’s service plan description document, which the company published last month, says, “Roam Unlimited users in an area with high network congestion where Residential Services are marked as ‘Sold Out’ on the Starlink map for longer than 60 consecutive days, Starlink may, in its sole discretion, (i) require you to pay a fee or upgrade to a different Service plan; or (ii) limit your access to the internet so you may only access your Starlink account on www.starlink.com.”
That’s a problem for Roam customers using their Starlink dish at home rather than on the go. Currently, the sold-out areas include Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Sacramento, California, and parts of Florida.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
The SpaceX document adds: “In the event your access to the internet is limited under (ii), you will continue to be charged the monthly Service fee unless you pause or cancel your Service. Starlink may permit Roam Unlimited users to opt-in to purchase Global Priority data. Such permission may be revoked by Starlink in its sole discretion at any time.”
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SpaceX didn’t respond to a request for comment. But the company instituted the change after it revived the waitlist for the Starlink residential plan last November, signaling that capacity for the satellite internet system is strained. (Last month, SpaceX also introduced a hard speed cap for customers on the Priority plan that can throttle their internet speeds down to 1Mbps.)
In the meantime, the Mobile Internet Resource Center, which caters to RV users, says: “These new restrictions are a big change from when Starlink Roam Unlimited was always available and worked anywhere with little to no restrictions.
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“While Starlink has not specified the reason for this change, it’s possible that residential customers were ordering Roam service and using it as a fixed-location option,” the center said. It’s also heard from some users on the Roam 50GB plan about being unable to switch to the Roam Unlimited plan.
In the US, SpaceX currently charges $165 per month for the Starlink Roam Unlimited plan. To avoid the restriction, a user could switch to the business-focused Local Priority plan, which also costs $165, but restricts the monthly data to 500GB. To receive additional data, a subscriber will need to pay more.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
About Michael Kan
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