Starlink Alters Complimentary Pause Function to Paid Standby Option, While Introducing Unlimited Low-Speed Data Package
Starlink Introduces Paid Standby Mode, Replacing Free Pause Feature
Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has announced a significant change to its service offerings. As of September 13, 2025, the company is transitioning its customers to a new $5-per-month "Standby Mode," replacing the previously offered free pause feature.
This change applies to Residential, Roam, and Priority subscribers, but Enterprise accounts and promotional plans are excluded from this shift.
What is Standby Mode?
Standby Mode offers customers the ability to keep their terminals connected year-round while being limited to unlimited low-speed data capped at 500 Kbps for both download and upload. This speed is sufficient for emergency messaging, software updates, and basic online functions, but it does not support streaming or heavy browsing.
To activate Standby Mode, users can do so via their Starlink account by selecting their service line, choosing “Pause Current Service,” and confirming. They can also activate it through the Starlink mobile app. To resume full high-speed service, users select “Resume Service” and can choose their plan. Resuming bypasses demand surcharges in busy network areas.
It's important to note that pausing Standby Mode does not reserve a user's slot on the network. If capacity is full at reactivation time, Residential users may need to switch plans or wait for availability.
Cost and Implications
For Roam subscribers who relied on the free pause feature, the new Standby Mode will result in at least US$60 in standby fees per year, even if they barely use their dish. In regions where Standby Mode is mandatory, the US$5 monthly fee replaces free pausing across supported plans.
Starlink users could previously pause their service at no cost, halting billing until they chose to resume. However, with the introduction of Standby Mode, customers must decide whether to opt into this paid service or cancel their paused lines before the September deadline.
In summary, Starlink's new Standby Mode offers a paid, always-connected, low-speed standby state designed to maintain connectivity for essential functions while controlling network load. The change aims to provide a more reliable service experience for all users while ensuring fair usage of the network resources.
- The new Standby Mode introduced by Starlink, a satellite internet service provider, is a $5-per-month service that allows customers to keep their terminals connected year-round, offering unlimited low-speed data capped at 500 Kbps suitable for emergency messaging, software updates, and basic online functions.
- In the context of space-and-astronomy and technology, this Standby Mode can be seen as a strides by Starlink in the field of science, as it aims to provide a more reliable service experience for all users while ensuring fair usage of the network resources through controlled network load and low-speed data.
