Business
Starlink adds a 1TB monthly soft cap for residential users
SpaceX’s Starlink internet has included unlimited bandwidth since launch, and while the service will technically continue to provide that to customers, users who exceed 1TB of data use in a single month will now be throttled once they reach that threshold.
Starlink sent out an email to users across the U.S. and Canada on Friday outlining the new so-called “Fair Use” policy, which describes how residential users will start out each month with “Priority Access,” and then continue to receive coverage with “Basic Access” for the remainder of the monthly billing period if they cross that 1TB threshold.
Basic Access means that they’ll get “deprioritized” in terms of use, meaning they’ll get slower speeds than Priority Access customers when there’s heavy use on the network. Starlink also notes that data used between off-peak times, specifically between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., won’t be counted toward that 1TB monthly Priority bucket.
The company is also introducing data use monitoring via user account pages so people can track how close they are to the soft cap.
Third-party network analytics firm Ookla noted that Starlink’s media speeds decreased in every country where it is currently available during the past year. Ookla cites user growth and the primary reason behind the overall decline. Starlink is clearly looking to improve the situation by limiting high-volume users, which it says represents less than 10% of its current subscriber base.
-
Business6 days ago
Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the new generative AI platform
-
Entertainment7 days ago
2024 summer TV preview: 33 TV shows to watch this summer
-
Business4 days ago
Haun Ventures is riding the bitcoin high
-
Entertainment4 days ago
Hands-on with the Claude AI app: It’s pleasant to use, but janky
-
Entertainment6 days ago
‘Bridgerton’: Everything you need to remember before Season 3
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. SE: A smartwatch skeptic tested both for 13 days
-
Entertainment4 days ago
5 essential gadgets for turning your home into a self-care sanctuary
-
Business3 days ago
Apple: pay attention to emerging markets, not falling China sales