Starlink Internet Data Cap in December is Delayed Until Next Year

Starlink's internet data cap for its customers is supposedly beginning this December. However, SpaceX, the space firm of Elon Musk, is pushing it until next year.

It essentially allows Starlink satellite internet customers to use the service without checking if they have already used over one terabyte (TB).

Starlink Internet Data Cap is Delayed Until Next Year in United States, Canada

As per the report by Engadget, SpaceX's Starlink announced in early November that it is implementing a new 1 TB data during peak hours, wherein the service gets pretty congested.

The plan to impose a limitation on usage comes as more and more folks are now using low-latency internet service. With that, Starlink is addressing the increasing demand by introducing a data cap.

Initially, the new rule is supposed to start this December. But the Musk-owned firm has decided to push its implementation until next year, according to a recent story by XDA Developers.

So while the data cap did not make it to its supposed arrival in December, it sure is on its way on a much later date.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) headquarters on January 28, 2021 in Hawthorne, California.

Starlink says on its website that "the Starlink team is implementing a Fair Use policy for Residential customers in the US and Canada and all Business/Maritime customers beginning February 2023."

And as such, instead of starting this December, Starlink plans to begin its data cap in February next year. It gives users two more months to use the satellite internet without monitoring their usage.

1 TB Monthly Data Cap During Peak Hours

The service went on to say that the cap seeks "to ensure our customer base is not negatively impacted by a small number of users consuming unusually high amounts of data."

XDA Developers highlights that while it has been delayed, the rules for the new data cap remain unchanged.

The giant firm announced that it is implementing a 1 TB data cap for its users from 7 am to 11 pm, which resets every billing period or monthly.

What Happens When You Go Over the 1TB Data Cap?

Once its users go beyond the 1 TB usage, they can still use the satellite internet service. However, from there, they might experience slower speeds until their next billing date.

If customers want to get fast speeds beyond the cap, they can pay a fee to get another 1 TB. The extra data costs a hefty $250.

But given its delay, users can forget about this data cap rules for the next two months.