Want an interstellar link? If you live in both states, be prepared to pay for more
Consider subscribing to SpaceX’s satellite Internet service provider Starlink? Warned: The company appears to have quietly raised demand-based fees in some states.
Redditors first began to notice the changes this week, trying to get Starlink PCMAG reported that the Northwest Pacific service found that the “demand fee” at checkout was $500.
The store noted that the fee was previously set at $250 in April for areas where the service is close to preset customer restrictions. The $250 fee itself increased from $100, when it was called the “traffic congestion fee.” All of this is beyond the $350 price of Starlink dishes.
A Starlink representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to Starlink, demand fees are charged in areas where their services are high and will be refunded if service is cancelled within 30 days.
“In areas with high demand, there is an additional one-time fee to purchase Stars and Stripes Services,” the company’s website says. “The additional fee depends on the location of the service address you choose, the service plan you choose and/or the Starlink suite of your choice. This fee applies only if you purchase or activate a new service plan. If you change the service address or service plan later, a demand surcharge may be charged.”
Currently, it seems that the increase is only Oregon and Washingtonespecially in Portland and Seattle Metropolitan area. For some customers, they may have no choice but to pay for the increase.
“My house happens to be on a road, and both options are DSL or another company that refuses to extend its services to my address, even if they serve houses on my street,” one Reddit user wrote in a post. “What to give? $500 is crazy! It seems like a ridiculous allegation to take advantage of those who have no other options.”
Starlink was first launched in 2019 and passed 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Elon Musk SpaceX.
