One of Starlink’s cheapest plans, Roam 10GB, is no more. SpaceX is telling subscribers it’s discontinuing the $10-per-month plan.
On Thursday, a growing number of Starlink subscribers in the US, Canada and Australia reported receiving an email from the company about the plan’s demise.
“We’re reaching out because you have a Starlink subscribed to Roam – 10GB (Mini). In 30 days, your plan will be discontinued,” SpaceX wrote in one such email that a Facebook user received.
The email doesn’t explain why Roam 10GB is being retired. But in a support page, SpaceX says it’s no longer offering the plan. Although existing subscribers on the plan can continue using it, the same page notes: “Should any changes occur, we’ll notify you in advance to make the transition as smooth as possible.”
(Facebook Starlink Support group)
The company first introduced Roam 10GB to existing subscribers last March, quietly making it an option for the Starlink Roam line-up, which lets you access the satellite internet system from more than one location.
Since then, some subscribers have used the plan for the portable Starlink Mini dish. Roam 10GB stood out for its low price, making it an attractive deal for Starlink customers looking to access the satellite internet system as a temporary backup or for short trips. The plan restricted the monthly data to 10GB, requiring the user to pay extra for each additional GB consumed.
To replace the plan, SpaceX is switching affected customers to the $5-per-month “Standby Mode,” which offers unlimited data, but limits the speeds to 0.5Mbps and under.
The company is also encouraging users to check out the revamped Roam 100GB plan, which costs $50 per month. Once the 100GB monthly data cap is exceeded, users can continue to receive unlimited data, but at speeds under 1Mbps.
For affected customers, SpaceX’s email adds: “If you’d prefer to try our new Roam 100GB plan, we’ve placed an 80% discount on that plan to your account for the next two months.”
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Still, some users are upset about the change. “I have this plan on my (Starlink) Mini for when I go camping and have to be on-call for work. It was the perfect amount of data at such a great rate. Guess I’ll be on standby now…” wrote one user on Reddit.
“They really need something between Standby and Roam 100GB,” added another Reddit user. “Especially for people who are using a Mini as their secondary dish.”
The plan’s demise isn’t a complete surprise. Some users previously spotted SpaceX removing the Roam 10GB as an option from the Starlink app last year.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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