SpaceX Backtracks on Starlink Data Cap After Complaints

UPDATE 9/12: There are signs that the data cap remains in place outside the US and Europe. A Starlink user in Malaysia and another user in Mexico told us SpaceX continues to throttle their internet speeds. A separate customer in Bangladesh also flagged the issue on Reddit, writing: "We paid for the service, so why are we being punished for actually using it?" Some customers have started an online petition in Spanish, urging SpaceX to remove the apparent data cap.

Original Story:
It looks like Starlink is backing off an apparent data cap that throttled users' speeds if they exceeded 5TB in monthly data usage.

On Thursday, affected users began reporting on Facebook and Reddit that Starlink had rescinded the restriction. Six users, including some based in the US, also confirmed to PCMag that SpaceX had removed the restriction, restoring the usual download rates. 

“My speeds are back to normal, the warning in my profile also has disappeared,” said one user in Bulgaria, who tried to resolve the issue through Starlink customer support for over a week. 

Complaints about the unusual restriction began popping up in recent days, even though Starlink has long advertised “unlimited data” with its Residential service plans. Affected users reported that SpaceX abruptly imposed the restriction without warning after exceeding 5TB of data or downloading more than 500GB per day. The change throttled internet speeds down to 10Mbps or lower for the rest of the user’s monthly billing cycle, a decrease from the usual 100-200Mbps. 

So far, SpaceX hasn’t responded to a request for comment about the situation. But when it initially imposed the restriction, the company, in some cases, sent a message alleging that the affected users had violated Starlink’s terms and conditions because their internet activity matched enterprise use rather than the consumer-focused Residential plan. It then nudged customers to pay for the pricier Priority plans.

(Credit: Starlink user)

The vague explanation upset affected subscribers, who say Starlink customer support offered no recourse and refused to mention any data cap or the apparent 5TB threshold.

“We have six kids, we homeschool, we know we are above average data users, but Starlink says it is an unlimited service, it says it right on my plan, so this has all been very frustrating, and has made it more difficult to do school work with the kids,” an Indiana-based Starlink customer named Brandon told PCMag earlier this week. 

(Credit: Starlink user)

But following the reversal, a few subscribers have reported receiving messages from Starlink’s customer support. “After further review of the information you provided, your service line is no longer restricted. We have issued a one-month service credit to your account, and I will now be closing your ticket,” one message said. 

Other customers say the restriction was lifted without notice. “Well they unlocked it for real. I am surprised. Getting 80 to 150Mbps directly after powering on,” one subscriber told PCMag after unplugging their Starlink equipment due to the restriction.

Another affected customer in Washington state said, “I’m assuming there was a rather significant amount of backlash by customers."

5TB is higher than the average internet subscriber’s consumption, which is closer to 711GB per month, according to a Q2 report from OpenVault, a provider of broadband network management. Hence, the controversy has also prompted some users to defend Starlink’s restriction, even though the satellite internet service has long had a “fair use policy” that warns it can reduce speeds to preserve network integrity. Still, the affected subscribers questioned why the restriction had been imposed suddenly without warning, forcing them to seek high-speed alternatives when none might exist in their area. 

“Starlink is my only option, so we're looking at how we can get our usage down, it would be helpful if we had some actual guidelines from Starlink instead of this vague reasoning though,” Brandon also said. He now reports that SpaceX not only lifted the restriction, but offered a free month of service and an apology.