What happens when you run out of Starlink priority data on your business plan

Starlink has been widely adopted by businesses over the last 18 months.   Uniform performance across the country and High Availability functionality have made Starlink a valuable business tool.  

But recently, Starlink changed its business plans, and that's left a lot of folks trying to figure things out. If you're one of them, this will help explain what happened, what the new plans are like, and what you can do.

Looking Back at the Old Starlink Plans

The old Starlink business plans were pretty simple. They gave you a certain amount of "Priority Data," which meant you got fast internet access. After that, you switched to "Standard Data”, and you had an unlimited amount of it. 

While Standard Data wasn't as speedy under congestion conditions, it was still good enough for a lot of business tasks.

What happened when you used up your Priority data before?

Under the old plans,, when you used up your Priority Data, your internet connection changed to Standard Data. This depends on the level of network congestion in your area. If the network is not heavily congested, you may still experience usable speeds, and you could continue working without significant issues. 

However, during peak times or in areas with high demand, the slowdown could be more noticeable, potentially impacting tasks like video conferencing, large file uploads/downloads, or other high-bandwidth activities.

The End of the Old Plans

Starlink recently announced that everyone with a business account has to switch to the new plans, no matter when they signed up or how they got Starlink.

This means:

• You can't keep your old plan or pricing anymore.
• Everyone has to use the new plans, with their new prices and data rules.

This change has made a lot of businesses unhappy, especially those who liked knowing what to expect with the old plans.

The New Starlink Business Plans for 2025

The new plans handle data and pricing in a different way. Here's what you need to know:

• Local vs. Global Priority Plans: Starlink now has two types of priority plans. Local Priority is for use in the continental United States and costs less. Global Priority is for businesses that need internet access all over the world, but it's more expensive.
• Buying More Data: If you use up your Priority Data, you can buy more. But once your Priority Data is gone, your internet speeds will be drastically reduced, making it hard to do much online.
• Terminal fee: You also have to pay a monthly fee for the Starlink equipment itself.

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‍What can you do now?

If you're a Starlink business user and your speeds throttle after exhausting your Priority data plan,  you have a few options:

• Do nothing: You could stop using Starlink (or live with the 1Mbps downloads and 0.5Mbps uploads) until your next billing cycle, but that's not practical for most businesses.
• Pay for more data: You can buy extra data, but this can get expensive quickly. You'll have to keep a close eye on your usage to avoid surprise bills.
  
  • Do the Math: For many businesses, the new pricing feels unpredictable and expensive. It can be a hassle to constantly track data usage.

Metro Wireless's Solution: MetroBOND

Metro Wireless, an authorized Starlink provider and a leader in connecting people wirelessly, has come up with a solution called MetroBOND to deal with these challenges.

What is MetroBOND?

MetroBOND bonds different wireless networks, including Starlink, LTE , and 5G, to give you a reliable internet connection. Via this offering, we can also offer Static Public  /30 and /29 IP blocks, as well as larger IP address blocks.

We can also bond traditional wireline connectivity, like fiber and coax circuits, with Starlink and 5G. The WAN bonding options are endless!

How does MetroBOND help with the Starlink Problem?

MetroBOND uses multiple networks (also known as carrier or network diversity!), so your internet connection won't go down or get slow, even if you use up your Starlink Priority Data.

Why choose Metro Wireless?

Metro Wireless has a decade of experience and the technology to give you a great internet experience.

Conclusion

Starlink's changes to its old Priority Plan have left many businesses looking for alternatives. The new plans offer some flexibility, but they can also be more complicated and costly. For businesses that need reliable, fast internet, Metro Wireless's MetroBOND is a good option.

Shameless plug: If you're having trouble with Starlink's new plans or want to find a better way to connect, reach out to Metro Wireless at sales@metrowireless.com . We can help you navigate the changing world of business internet and find a solution that works for you.

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