If you have been planning to use Starlink as an entry point to faster internet, especially in rural or remote areas, there is a new development. Starlink, (which is owned by SpaceX and offers satellite Internet service to people in some parts of the US), is now making new customers pay an additional $100 besides the standard fee. Why?It again comes to congestion. Even the satellites up in space can experience traffic congestion similar to the morning rush hour.
What is this $100 congestion charge?
Starlink’s situation is kinda —only when there are too many people in one single area, the network may be congested. As a result, to address the congestion problem in certain areas, Starlink has added a one-time fee of $100 to future customers.
However, the company in its Frequently Asked Questions section says that this fee only arises when the customer is subscribing or activating a new service plan in a busy area. It could also come into play if you ever wanted to change your service address at some point in the future. The good news? If you are not satisfied with the service and wish to get your money back within 30 days then the $100 will be returned.
Why Charge Extra for Congestion?
Starlink needs its current customers not to deal with slow and irritating internet connection just because the network is congested. Apparently, in order to reduce the likelihood of individuals making hasty decisions and disrupting the operation of the platform, they decided to introduce this fee. Who does not love fast internet?
Starlink has also hinted that this congestion charge is not going to be permanent. After this they intend to remove the fee once they increase the network of places to cover these crowded zones.
The Good News for Some
The regions where Starlink has an abundance of excess network capability, they are actually giving $100 service credit! Little bonuses are provided for those residents in areas of excess availability: their bills are slightly adjusted downwards.
Where is the congestion occurring?
If you are wondering if it will impact you, it looks like the congestion charge is being implemented in the southern and the eastern part of the USA only. The network is experiencing pressure in such states as Texas, Florida, Kansas, Ohio, and Virginia. For instance, Starlink’s speeds within these zones have reduced over time, which is not quite suitable if you want faster downloads.
Indeed this issue grew to such a scale that even the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) used it as one of the reasons when they rejected a humongous $886 billion broadband grant for Starlink.
Is Now the Time to Sign Up?
The additional $100 could certainly be a drawback, but here are some reasons why getting on the Starlink train may not be so bad right now. First of all, they have now offered their standard dish with about a thirty percent discount that ranges from $499 to $299. Also, if you are in one of these sparsely populated areas, then you get that $100 credit and even more favorable monthly charges: $90 to $120 depending on your area.
Final Thoughts
Starlink’s new congestion charge indicates that their satellite network is under pressure in some regions of the United States. What may be doubtful for many is that they pay more upfront, but it is a strategic move by the company to maintain internet speeds as consistently high for all its customers.
