SpaceX is making it harder for new customers in some parts of the Pacific Northwest to sign up for Starlink internet. Not only are they charging a steep $1,000 “demand surcharge,” but now some customers are being told they’ll have to wait up to six weeks just to get their satellite dish shipped. Starlink hardware shipping delays could seriously affect folks wanting residential equipment.
Six weeks waiting due to Starlink hardware shipping delays
This is a big change. Normally, Starlink hardware ships within a few days. But if you’re in a high-demand area, a message on the Starlink website now says:
“Due to high demand in your area, there is an additional one-time charge to purchase Starlink services. Please allow up to 6 weeks for shipping.” This delay appears to only apply to residential plan equipment. But hang on and keep reading—even Starlink Roam customers can run afoul of costly restrictions.
Demand surcharge increases have been bumping up for months
SpaceX seems to be using this as a way to slow down new signups in regions where the network is already full. It’s no coincidence that Washington state has been seeing slower Starlink speeds compared to the rest of the country.
Over the past several months, the company has quietly increased the demand surcharge in certain areas—from $100, to $250, to $500, then $750. Now, it’s up to $1,000. Add that to the regular equipment and service costs, and new customers could be looking at a starting bill of $1,349 just to get connected.
Meanwhile, some customers in other parts of the U.S. have been offered the dish for free, only paying shipping costs. That includes areas like southern Oregon and Idaho, adding to the confusion.
Starlink Roam plan “workaround” has its own dangers
There is a workaround, but it comes at a cost. RVers can still get Starlink by signing up for the Starlink Roam plan, which allows you to use the service on the move. But Roam now costs $165/month, compared to the $120/month Residential plan, and comes with some important limitations.
If you camp in an area with too many users—or use Roam in the same spot for too long—SpaceX can slow your connection or even force you to switch plans or pay more. Roam customers get lower priority than Residential users, which means slower speeds in busy areas, especially during peak times.
Starlink has already foreseen that some Roam users may try using their gear as a workaround for essentially using it in a residential setting. The company’s service plan spells it out: “Roam Unlimited users in an area with high network congestion where Residential Services are marked as ‘Sold Out’ … 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.”
Lesson for “Sunbirds” and full-time RVers
So, listen up, you “Sunbirds” who get out of the heat and hang out in one place, say near Seattle, for a couple of months. If you don’t move along but use your Roam plan for more than a few weeks, you may get an unwelcome bill, or find yourself throttled way back.
Retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot have also been selling Starlink hardware. But even if you buy a dish there, activating it in a high-demand zone could still trigger that $1,000 surcharge.
Source: pcmag.com
RELATED
- Like Starlink? Don’t tell your friends!
- Building a global internet service from space isn’t cheap—just ask Starlink
- Starlink now ‘demands’ $1000 surcharge in some locations
- Starlink satellite messaging and data available to all carriers’ subscribers this fall
- T-Mobile’s $10 Starlink texting plan now open to Verizon, AT&T customers
- T-Mobile and Starlink team up for cell service anywhere
- Ways to connect to the internet while traveling, and the pros and cons of each option
- Got Starlink? Scam alert for unsuspecting customers
- Starlink demand surcharge doubles—now higher than the dish itself
RVT1219b
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for the news. Starlink is using pricing to allocate their product across customers. This is also known as price discrimination where different customers are charged different prices for the same product. Good to know, but nothing nefarious here, just demonstrating that some areas are congested and additional users/buyers will have a tangibly negative effect on the use of the service by previously existing users/buyers. Have a great day and safe travels!
Who wants anything with muscadoodle on it?
Apparently to many. Pretty obvious to anyone but a dufusdoodle.
Here’s the same story:
Even with high user density, StarLink is so good that many are willing to pay $1,000 demand charge and wait up to 6 weeks for delivery for their RESIDENTIAL subscription.
In fact, it’s so good, users who qualify for the residential subscription might opt for the higher priced roam subscription with lower data prioritization just to connect quicker.
This affects RESIDENTIAL subscriptions for a few regions in the PNW but is irrelevant to those not trying to set up a residency in the affected congested area.