SpaceX is Offering ‘Global Roaming’ for Starlink Waitlist Customers

SpaceX is expanding its Starlink services worldwide, offering global roaming for $200 a month. The company emailed its customers in locations that don't have access to Starlink internet service yet and invited them to try the internet service out.

Starlink Global

Starlink is testing its new "Global Roaming Service," which will cost $599 for hardware in addition to the $200 a month plan payment. It will allow users to connect their Starlink from "almost anywhere in the world."

It will make use of inter-satellite links or "space lasers" to provide connectivity with high speeds, low latency service, and only brief periods of poor connectivity if none at all. As shown by Engadget, Starlink aims to improve on that over time.

For now, the only payment accepted for Global Roaming is in United States Dollars (USD). People outside the US who wants to try the plan out will shoulder the responsibilities of the Importer of Record for the Starlink Kit.

According to the email, this could mean paying for customs duties and import taxes will be included if it was required. It also mentioned that Global Roaming services are contingent on regulatory approvals, which could mean your location may not be authorized.

There are still locations where Starlink has pending regulatory approval like India, Pakistan, and Cambodia. The company did not state how they plan to release the internet service that can be accessed anywhere in the world.

Is It as Good as Starlink's Standard Service?

It's still in its early stages to determine whether or not it will provide the same speeds as the internet service provided in coverage areas. It's possible that Starlink will achieve that kind of quality with a wider reach through time and more resources.

As mentioned in The Verge, the internet service provider already has a plan that provides portability. However, the Starlink RV plan, which costs $135 a month, is not as prioritized as those in residential services, which results in slower speeds.

Aside from the additional charge for a dish named "Dishy" to make portability possible, there's also the issue of it being available only in certain areas of the world. This questions whether Global Roaming will live up to its "Global" title.

Starlink also offers an add-on for Portability that costs $25 a month. This is available for residential customers who already pay the $110 subscription. It allows them to travel with an internet connection within their home continent.

It also seems like the Global Roaming option is still too good to be true, especially with its price considering that Starlink's Maritime plan costs $5000 for internet access at sea. But then again, residential internet services differ from portable ones, as well as connectivity on land and sea.

Details provided for the Global Roaming option for Starlink are limited, so it's hard to determine whether the plan only accommodates residential satellite internet service or if it will function like the portable internet service since it is accessible anywhere on land.