SpaceX has abandoned the free option to pause its Starlink internet service. The company has introduced a paid Standby Mode tariff, which costs about $5 per month and allows users to access a minimal connection with speeds up to 500 kbps.
SpaceX has abandoned the free option to pause its Starlink internet service. The company has introduced a paid Standby Mode tariff, which costs about $5 per month and allows users to access a minimal connection with speeds up to 500 kbps.
According to NV Business, previous free «pauses» will now automatically be put on hold if customers agree to the changes. Those who do not activate the new tariff by September 13 will receive a full cancellation of their subscription without additional fees.
Standby Mode is available to Roam, Priority and Residential subscribers. For $5 per month, customers can keep their device running at a basic level — enough for calls, messages, navigation or software updates. However, users who pause their service for more than a year may be required to upgrade to a more expensive plan or pay an additional fee.
Business customers and corporate accounts do not have the option to pause the service at all. Home subscribers should note that a paid «pause» does not reserve space on the network. If there is a lack of capacity in the region, it may not be possible to resume the same tariff.
The innovation has caused a wave of criticism. Previously, owners of Starlink mobile kits used a free «pause» to avoid paying for months of downtime, for example, when the equipment was stored in a garage or used only during trips. Now they will have to pay at least $60 per year even for an inactive terminal. On social networks, users called SpaceX’s decision a «hidden tariff increase.»
For the Ukrainian market, the changes may be critical: in regions with high demand, renewal after cancellation of the subscription may be impossible due to network overload. Therefore, users are effectively faced with a choice — either pay for Standby Mode or risk losing access to their tariff.
Earlier, dev.ua wrote about how Kyivstar this month conducted the first public test of Starlink Direct to Cell satellite communication in Ukraine — two smartphones successfully connected to the Kyivstar|SpaceX network and exchanged messages. The operator plans to launch the text messaging service in the fall of 2025. At the start, the service will be free for Kyivstar subscribers.
