New Starlink customers have to pay a $100

Starlink imposes $100 “congestion charge” on new users in parts of US

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2024-09-22 00:00:05

New Starlink customers have to pay a $100 "congestion charge" in areas where the satellite broadband network has limited capacity.

"In areas with network congestion, there is an additional one-time charge to purchase Starlink Residential services," a Starlink FAQ says. "This fee will only apply if you are purchasing or activating a new service plan. If you change your Service address or Service Plan at a later date, you may be charged the congestion fee."

The charge is unwelcome for anyone wanting Starlink service in a congested area, but it could help prevent the capacity crunch from getting worse by making people think twice about signing up. The SpaceX-owned Internet service provider also seems to anticipate that people who sign up for service in congested areas may change their minds after trying it out for a few weeks.

"Our intention is to no longer charge this fee to new customers as soon as network capacity improves. If you're not satisfied with Starlink and return it within the 30-day return window, the charge will be refunded," the company said.