Want Starlink? Get Ready to Pay a Lot More If You Live in These 2 States

Remember to subscribe to SpaceX satellite internet service providerStarlink? Be notified: the company seems to have discreetly increased costs based on demand in certain states.

Redditors began to notice the change this week while trying to obtain a Starlink service in the North West Pacific, PCMAG reportedNoting that the “request fees” at the cash register were $ 500.

The point of sale noted that these costs were previously set at $ 250 in April for areas where the service approached a predefined customer limit. These costs of $ 250 was increased by $ 100, at the time when it was known as “congestion costs”. All this is above the price of $ 350 for the starlink dish in itself.

A Starlink representative did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

According to StarlinkThe application costs are billed in areas where its service is at high demand, and will be reimbursed if the service is canceled within 30 days.

“In high demand areas, there is an additional single charge to buy Starlink services,” said the company’s website. “The additional load depends on the location of your service address, the service plan you choose and / or the Starlink kit that you select. This load will only apply if you buy or activate a new service plan. If you change your address of the service or your service plan on a later date, you can be billed the overload of the request.”

For the moment, it seems that the increase is only active in Oregon and Washington, especially in the metropolitan regions of Portland and Seattle. And for some customers, they may have no choice but to pay it.

“My house is on a road where the two options are either DSL or another company which refuses to extend its service at my address, even if they serve the house in my street”, a Reddit user written in a post. “What gives? $ 500 is crazy! It seems to be a ridiculous charge to enjoy those who have no other options.”

Starlink was launched for the first time in 2019 and provides internet service to customers via 7,000 satellites in low orbit. It is a subsidiary in exclusive property of Elon Musk spacex.