At a Glance
- Starlink Roam customers now receive 100 GB of high-speed data instead of the previous 50 GB
- The company removed the option to buy extra high-speed data at $1 per gigabyte
- After hitting the cap, users drop to unlimited low-speed service under 1 Mbps
- Why it matters: Travelers and campers get more monthly bandwidth without surprise overage charges
Starlink has quietly doubled the monthly high-speed data allowance for its entry-level Roam plan from 50 GB to 100 GB, according to an updated support page posted January 13. The change took effect immediately and eliminates the previous pay-per-gigabyte top-up option that let customers buy additional fast data for $1 per GB.
New Plan Details
Under the revised terms, Roam subscribers who exceed 100 GB in a billing cycle will stay connected through “unlimited low-speed data” capped at roughly 1 Mbps down and 0.5 Mbps up. Starlink states on its website that those speeds support email, voice calls, and texting, but streaming or video conferencing will likely stall.
The Roam tier is built for mobility. Customers can pair the service with either the pocket-sized Mini Kit priced at $299 or the larger Standard Kit at $349. The Mini’s compact footprint makes it popular for camping trips and RV setups where space is tight.
Real-World Performance
Amanda S. Bennett tested the Roam plan this summer in Washington’s remote North Cascades using the Mini Kit. The dish locked onto satellites within 10 minutes and delivered average speeds of:
- 127 Mbps download
- 17 Mbps upload
- 46 ms latency
Those figures far exceed the new low-speed throttle point, illustrating the stark drop users will notice after burning through the monthly allotment.
Data Reality Check
Even with the bump to 100 GB, the allowance trails typical home consumption. OpenVault reports that the average U.S. broadband household burns through 641 GB per month. Still, 100 GB can cover a month of moderate travel use-maps, email, social posts, and occasional music streaming-whereas the previous 50 GB ceiling often ran dry within two weeks.
Pause Option Comes at a Price
Starlink lets Roam customers cancel and restart service month-to-month, but popularity has created congestion headaches. In August the company introduced a $5-per-month “Standby Mode” fee that reserves a slot on the network while the account is paused. Users on standby can still connect, though speeds are throttled to 0.5 Mbps-identical to the post-cap throttle that heavy Roam users will now experience.
Key Takeaways
- Roam users get twice the fast data without a price increase
- No more $1/GB safety net; crossing 100 GB means slow speeds for the rest of the cycle
- The Mini Kit remains the go-to hardware for travelers who want the easiest setup
- Heavy-data nomads may still need a second connection or a pricier plan to avoid the throttle
