Starlink hikes prices on satellite internet plans
▼ Summary
– Starlink is raising prices across its US satellite internet plans, including Residential, Standby Mode, and Roam options, with increases of $5 to $10 per month.
– The Residential 100Mbps plan rises from $50 to $55, the 200Mbps plan from $80 to $85, and the Residential Max plan from $120 to $130 monthly.
– Standby Mode, which lets subscribers pause main service for low-speed data, increases from $5 to $10 per month, while Roam 100GB and Unlimited plans rise to $55 and $175 respectively.
– Starlink owner SpaceX urged the FCC to end $4.5 billion in rural internet subsidies, claiming satellite internet has solved high-speed broadband access issues.
– Starlink attributes the price increases to expanding network capacity, coverage, and reliability, and notes it previously offered a 12-month plan with a free dish and router in select markets.
Starlink is rolling out price increases across its satellite internet plans in the United States, including its Standby Mode option. The cheapest Residential plan, which offers 100Mbps speeds, now costs $55 per month, up from $50. This was first reported by PCMag. The 200Mbps residential tier has climbed from $80 to $85 per month, while the Residential Max plan jumped from $120 to $130 per month.
Standby Mode, a feature that lets subscribers pause their main Starlink service while still using unlimited low-speed data, now carries a $10 per month fee, doubling its previous $5 cost. Roam plans are also seeing hikes. The 100GB Roam plan rose from $50 to $55 per month, and the Unlimited Roam plan increased from $165 to $175 per month. Notably, the 300GB Roam plan remains unchanged at $80 per month.
For many rural Americans, Starlink has been a lifeline, offering broadband where few alternatives exist. However, some critics worry the service could stifle competition in underserved areas. In a recent letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Starlink owner SpaceX urged the agency to end $4.5 billion in rural internet subsidies, claiming satellite internet has already “solved” the problem of high-speed broadband access.
In a message to customers, Starlink explained that the price increases are necessary as the company is “rapidly increasing network capacity, expanding coverage, and improving reliability to deliver faster, more consistent connectivity for our customers.” Last year, Starlink introduced a 12-month residential plan that offers the dish and router for $0 upfront in select markets.
(Source: The Verge)
