SpaceX's Starlink is rolling out a significant price adjustment for its global roaming plan, offering users access to satellite internet service worldwide.
On Thursday evening, numerous Starlink "Mobile - Global" plan users received an email from SpaceX regarding the price modification. Previously, the company charged US subscribers $200 per month for the service, but it's now doubling to $400 per month.
Effective August 16, the rate hike applies to existing customers, while new customers are subject to the increased price immediately, as per the email notification.
Reports from users in Australia indicate SpaceX is raising the price from $300 Australian dollars to $670. Similarly, a customer in Zambia noted a comparable price surge.
The rationale behind SpaceX's rate adjustment remains unclear, with the company yet to respond to inquiries. However, the global roaming plan offers a loophole for subscribers to access Starlink in regions where the satellite internet service isn't officially available.
SpaceX has been addressing this practice in various African nations awaiting regulatory approval for Starlink. Last month, SpaceX notified affected subscribers in Africa that the "Mobile - Regional" plans are for temporary travel and transit, not permanent use in one location. This decision prompted numerous NGOs to advocate for Starlink access in Sudan, where internet blackouts persist amid civil unrest.
Meanwhile, the "Mobile - Regional" roaming plan maintains its price at $150 per month.
Beyond this adjustment, SpaceX has quietly raised prices on other plans, including an increase in the monthly fee for some US residential subscribers from $90 to $120, citing changes in capacity limits within their vicinity.
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