Starlink removes ability to pause subscriptions: Difference between revisions
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|Description=Starlink disabled their "Pause" feature for their internet plans, launching an alternative "Standby mode" costing $5 USD/month with speeds of 500kb/s. | |Description=Starlink disabled their "Pause" feature for their internet plans, launching an alternative "Standby mode" costing $5 USD/month with speeds of 500kb/s. | ||
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On August 13, 2025, Starlink announced a terms of service change that modified the "Pause" feature for their satellite internet plans. The change would remove the users' ability to pause their internet subscription at no cost, and introduce a new feature called "Standby Mode" where users have to pay $5USD/month in order to maintain low speed internet access, with speeds around 500kb/s. The changes are due to take effect 30 days after the initial notice to users, on September 12 2025.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ricker |first=Thomas |date=2025-08-13 |title=Starlink Mini users just lost their beloved pause feature |url=https://www.theverge.com/analysis/758826/starlink-mini-standby-pause-bait-switch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813181309/https://www.theverge.com/analysis/758826/starlink-mini-standby-pause-bait-switch |archive-date=2025-08-13 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Matt |date=2025-08-14 |title=Starlink Replaces Free Pause Feature With Paid Standby Mode, But Adds Unlimited Low-Speed Data |url=https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/starlink-replaces-free-pause-feature-with-paid-standby-mode-but-adds-unlimited-low-speed-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818100229/https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/starlink-replaces-free-pause-feature-with-paid-standby-mode-but-adds-unlimited-low-speed-data/ |archive-date=2025-08-18 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Drive Tesla}}</ref> | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
{{Ph-I-B}} | {{Ph-I-B}} | ||
Starlink previously gave its users the ability to pause their satellite internet plans at any time and at no cost. | |||
==[Incident]== | ==[Incident]== | ||
{{Ph-I-I}} | {{Ph-I-I}} | ||
On August 13, 2025, Starlink sent out an email to its customers informing them of the terms of service change.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Supan |first=Joe |date=2025-08-14 |title=Starlink Users Will Now Have to Pay $5 to Pause Service |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-users-will-now-have-to-pay-5-to-pause-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818095824/https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/starlink-users-will-now-have-to-pay-5-to-pause-service/ |archive-date=2025-08-18 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=CNET}}</ref> Customers on the Starlink Roam, Mini, and Mobile Priority plans were told that the free "Pause" option would be discontinued, and replaced with a new $5 per month "Standby Mode." Unlike Pause, Standby Mode maintains low-speed data connectivity for applications like messaging, email, or Wi-Fi calling. | |||
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===Starlink's response=== | |||
{{Ph-I-ComR}} | {{Ph-I-ComR}} | ||
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==Lawsuit== | ==Lawsuit== | ||
{{Ph-I-L}} | {{Ph-I-L}} | ||
As of August 2025, no lawsuits have been filed in relation to the change. | |||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
{{Ph-I-ConR}} | {{Ph-I-ConR}} | ||
The change has been viewed by some as a "bait-and-switch" by users of the Starlink Mini, which had been marketed as having the ability to pause service as a key selling point.<ref name=":0" /> | |||