Telecommunications company Starlink is to modify its service plans introducing ‘significant changes’ in billing structures and subscription terms.
The changes include the introduction of a fixed terminal access fee for global data subscribers in addition to monthly data charges for high-speed internet.
Another change is the removal of the ‘Best Effort’ unlimited low priority service.
“These adjustments have raised concerns among users about cost predictability and service continuity,” explained Jason MacIntosh, MD of Clase Connected which specialises in marine communications solutions and supplies Starlink services.
“We would like to reassure vessel owners and maritime professionals that our Starlink services remain stable and virtually unaffected by the soon to be announced changes to Starlink’s billing and subscription models.”
Jason added that in another major amendment to current terms, customers buying their service direct from Starlink will no longer be able to buy data per gigabyte using the ‘overages’ model and additional data will need to be purchased in blocks of 50GB.
These adjustments have raised concerns among users about cost predictability and service continuity.
Jason MacIntosh
“This major change to the service concerning the opportunity to receive further connection and data after exhausting your allowance means that when the data has been used, the service will be throttled to a speed of 1Mbps download and 512Kbps upload speed, and not the historical best effort service,” said Jason.
“This low-speed connection will only permit basic internet browsing and low volume data exchange like WhatsApp.
“Clients of Clase Connected, whilst still governed by the throttled service, will continue to charged on a per GB basis for any overages rather than having to purchase 50GB blocks of data that may end up being charged for but not used.”
Starlink provides residential and global roaming high-speed internet. The company is a division of SpaceX.
Clase Connected provides communication services for a range of vessels working with a number of suppliers.
