Starlink is all set to launch a global satellite internet plan that promises broadband connectivity “almost anywhere on land in the world.” The launch follows the company's Starlink Aviation announcement with the promise of speeds of up to 350Mbps to airline passengers. Starlink Aviation will be available on select airplanes to start, with more being added to the list shortly. In mid-February, the company also launched its new Starlink Maritime service that offers high-speed satellite internet on boats and cruise ships.
Redditor Kitchen_Advertising2 posted an email that Starlink has reportedly been sending to people to invite them to sign-up for a new global internet service. Called Starlink Global Roaming, the service promises fast, low-latency internet connectivity around the world. The emails are reportedly going out not only to existing Starlink subscribers but even to those on the waiting list for the standard residential service. However, the company says that signing up for the new service will not impact their position on the waitlist.
Starlink Global Roaming Service
Surprisingly, these invites are also being sent to people in countries where Starlink isn't operational. According to PCMag, at least two have confirmed receiving the emails, including a person in Greenland, where Starlink isn't available yet. It's not immediately clear why these emails are being sent to people outside the current Starlink markets, but this could be the company's way of circumventing regulators and offering its service in countries where it is yet to get regulatory clearance. That said, the email says that the service will only be available in markets where it has already received regulatory approvals.
Global Roaming will be priced at $200 per month, with a $599 one-time payment for the Starlink hardware kit. The price is on the steep side compared to standard residential internet plans, but it's still substantially cheaper than the company's Maritime and Aviation plans, which are priced at a whopping $5,000 per month. On the plus side, Starlink says users who are unhappy with the service can return the hardware for a full refund within 30 days. Starlink's residential plan currently costs $110 per month after a price hike last year, while the upfront hardware cost is now $599 after a $100 increase.
It will be interesting to see if Global Roaming will be as much of a hit with paying consumers as Starlink's standard residential plan, which continues to attract new subscribers despite the company being unable to meet demand. Last year, many unhappy customers complained about not receiving the starter kit even a year after paying the $100 deposit. It will be important for Starlink to make sure that its Global Roaming service is better positioned to reach customers in a timely manner.
Source: Kitchen_Advertising2/Reddit, PCMag