Everything You Need To Know About Starlink Global Roaming

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Starlink has changed the name of their portable service from Starlink RV to Starlink Roam. Regional Roam is just like the previous RV plan, which enabled you to use Starlink anywhere within your own continent. Global Roam, the new option, enables you to use Starlink anywhere with active Starlink coverage, across multiple continents. This new global roaming service allows your Starlink dish to connect to satellites virtually anywhere on land in the world.

The previous Starlink RV and Portability add-on allowed continental travel, but Starlink Global Roam enables inter-continental travel without many of the restrictions applied to the other portability tiers. In this article, I am going to tell you everything you need to know about Starlink Roam. I will cover what it is, what it costs, how it works, and who it would be a good fit for.

What Is Global Roaming?

Global Roam is a service plan from Starlink that enables global on land travel with a Starlink unit. It joins Regional Roam to form the two service options under the Starlink Roam tier. Starlink Roam is Starlink’s portable service product line, and it is the new name for Starlink RV. Starlink satellites cover nearly all land on Earth, but the service is still available based on regulatory approval. You can check for up-to-date coverage information on the Starlink availability map.

Both Roam services come with a Standard Starlink hardware kit. Regional Roam has an option to upgrade to the Flat High Performance hardware for in-motion use. The Standard equipment is identical to the equipment sold with Residential. Contents of the kit include the Starlink dish, stand, router, and cables. Find out more about what comes with a Starlink kit here.

Starlink Roam Cost

The hardware kit for Global Roam costs $599, and you will pay $200 per month for the service. Global Roam can be paused so that you aren’t billed when it’s not in use. There are no contracts required, and customers can return the kit within 30 days for a full refund if they are not satisfied. Regional Roam (formerly Starlink RV) still costs $150/month, with the hardware kit starting at $599.

Billing is currently only available in USD (United States Dollars) for Global Roam. It can be purchased outside of the US, but you will be responsible for customs and import taxes, if required.

You can also transfer previously used Starlink equipment into a new Global Roam or Regional Roam account. For details on this process, check out our guide on transferring and activating service for a used dish.

How Does It Work?

The technology that allows global roaming to work is the inter-satellite links that have been going into service on the newer generations of Starlink satellites. Also known as the ‘space lasers’, these inter-satellite laser links allow for incredibly fast satellite to satellite communication. Global connectivity is achieved by reducing the amount of ground stations required to send data to the internet.

Before the space lasers, data was sent to the internet only via Starlink ground stations. Since there aren’t ground stations in every country, some areas of the globe were simply too far away from ground stations to be reliably serviced. The laser links allow data to be sent from satellite to satellite, through the Starlink constellation, and then to the optimal ground station. This enables low latency, high speed internet virtually anywhere on Earth.

Who Is It For?

At $200/month, Global Roam isn’t exactly cheap compared to most internet plans. In my opinion, Global Roaming will be best for international travelers or organizations who require Starlink service on multiple continents. Starlink Regional Roam is still available for $50/month cheaper, and will appeal to people who don’t need to travel between continents.

If connectivity is important to you on land, across the globe, Global Roam is a great value. There aren’t any other providers that offer global coverage with low latency and high speeds. My guess is that a lot of non-profits, businesses, and other organizations who operate in many different locations around the world will be the first to utilize this new service.

Regular domestic travelers, which includes most RV’ers, overlanders, campers, etc., will still find the best value with Regional Roam. With Regional Roam, you still have the ability to travel within an entire continent, you just can’t cross into another one.

Regional Roaming vs Global Roaming

You may be wondering, what’s the difference between Regional and Global Roaming? The first major difference is that Global Roam doesn’t have travel restrictions like the Regional plan. Starlink Regional Roam is limited to use within the same continent as the customers shipping address. Global Roam doesn’t have that restriction, so it can be used globally on virtually any continent.

The other difference is cost. Starlink Regional Roam costs $150/month, while Global Roam costs $200/month. The equipment cost for both services is the same at $599.

Finally, the last important distinction between Regional and Global Roam is that the in-motion, Flat High Performance hardware is not available for Global Roaming. The in-motion Starlink hardware can only be purchased on the Regional Roam plan.

What Speeds Do I Get With Starlink Roam?

Both Starlink Roam plans (Regional and Global) are deprioritized on the Starlink network. That means in times of network congestion, performance may suffer compared to Residential and Business Starlink customers in the area. That said, Starlink says Roam customers will get between 5-50 mbps download speeds, and 2-10 mbps upload speeds.

It’s also important to note that the Starlink satellite constellation isn’t yet finished. Starlink says that Global Roam customers should expect higher latency and regular service interruptions. Global roaming, as of right now, is a best effort kind of service. As more laser links come online, reliability and performance will improve. Regional Roam customers, who are typically in areas with existing Starlink ground stations, will have less of an issue with interruptions and reliability.

How Do I Order?

You will find the Roam service on the Starlink.com website, under the Roam menu. From there, enter your shipping address. Then, pick whether you want the standard Portable or the Mobile hardware (Mobile is not available with Global Roam). Finally, select Regional or Global Roam.

Finish filling out your information, and place the order. Billing starts 14 days after your order ships. You have up to 30 days from delivery to return your Starlink kit for a full refund.

Restrictions With Starlink Roam

The two month restriction remains in place for both Starlink Roam plans. Starlink says that users who stay in one country for more than 2 months will need to update their registered address:

3.3 Limitation and Requirements for Starlink Roaming Users. Starlink Roaming Services is a consumer product only and is not available for purchase or use by commercial, enterprise, or governmental users. If you use Starlink Roaming Services for more than two months in a country that is different than your shipping address, Starlink may require you to move your registered address to your new location. Starlink does not guarantee when or where Starlink Roaming Services will be available. Starlink Roaming Services are dependent on many factors, including obtaining or maintaining the necessary regulatory approvals which are subject to change. Find a list of authorized territories (marked “Available or Waitlist”) on Starlink map: www.starlink.com/map.

Starlink Roaming Terms of Service

Final Thoughts

The branding from Starlink RV to Starlink Roam came as a surprise to me and most Starlink fans. But after digging through the details and writing this article, I already feel confident that it was a smart move. After all, customers are using the portable Starlink service for way more than just RV’s. I feel that the new Roam name reflects the possibilities of the service even better than before.

The global roaming feature available with Starlink Roam is going to be a hit for many international travelers and organizations. Now you won’t have to worry about where you buy the equipment. You just buy it once and go, without worrying about straying outside of the original continent you purchased it in.

Do you find the features of Global Roam appealing for your situation? Is $200/month a reasonable price for this feature for the ability to travel globally? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments!

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Andreas
Andreas
6 days ago

Currently a lot of travelers use Starlink for RV on the panamericana in north and south America. Some of them have even purchased the hardware in Europe. Will Starlink stop working for them if they don’t buy the global roaming option?

Jose
Jose
7 days ago

So i installed my Starlink Rv system on February 4 in Haiti. I brought the system in my checked in luggage. My billing period ends march 18, and I’m considering transferring the system to myself using a new account so i can change it to Global Roam. My question is would i have an issue transferring it to myself if I’m already In Haiti? Also how long does it take after i press cancel and start the transfer?

Last edited 7 days ago by Jose
Forrest Foltz
Forrest Foltz
8 days ago

I’ve been using U.S. based residential+portability since March ’22 (pre-RV) on my boat in Mexico and Central America. I like that the two-month foreign use limit doesn’t apply (only to RV) and that I’ve been able to use in coastal areas.

I’d like to consider switching to Global Roam for use in other continents’ coastal waters. I notice that the official coverage maps still include coastal waters even though Starlink says “land only”.

1. How to switch from R+P to Global Roam?

2. Will Starlink be eliminating coastal waters from their coverage (and map) for the roaming service?

Sent from San Blas, Panama

John
John
4 days ago
Reply to  Noah Clarke

Coast Water (tidal) and In-land (non-tidal) waters are not included in the Roam T&C. The T&C state state only “land-based destination”…..”Starlink Roaming “Regional” Plan allows you to access Services at any land-based destination within the continent that you place your Order. Starlink Roaming “Global” Plan allows you to access Services at any land-based destination where Starlink provides active coverage. ” Whether it becomes enforced such that thousands of boaters would be denied access is hard to believe. Also, if I’m dockside at a marina, connected to shore power, is that in-land waters, coastal waters, or land-based? If I’m at anchor 100 yards away or a mooring ball 25 yards away, does that really change the equation.

Jacinto
Jacinto
8 days ago

I just gritted my teeth and bought this expensive global roaming in Central America. Now I would like to change to regional roaming and don’t see a way to downgrade.

Jessica Butler
Jessica Butler
11 days ago

Question: if I already own the RV Starlink with now what is known as “roam” service. Do I have the ability to upgrade my service to “global”? If so, how can I do this?

Jose
Jose
6 days ago
Reply to  Noah Clarke

Btw- i sent support a message and they were willing to change my plan from roam to global roam.

Wayne
Wayne
11 days ago

Question, I want to order one but I want to move it one in a while from my residence to my trailer?Which package would be best to purchase?

J Shep
J Shep
12 days ago

When will we be able to use Roam (RV) while on the road, or has the restriction been lifted?

Alicia Hettema
Alicia Hettema
12 days ago

This may have already been answered. If so I apologize. How do you change from normal RV to global?

Paul
Paul
13 days ago

Perhaps someone can answer my question, does the new roam still have the two months max in another country on the same continent restriction? If so, does it reset when going to another country, or is it a rolling 12 month restriction?

Jose
Jose
13 days ago

Could i switch from my roam plan to global roam? If yes how?

Alan R Miller
Alan R Miller
13 days ago

Say you are going overseas on a 2 month trip. Do you know if you can upgrade from Regional Roam (actually a current “RV” plan) to Global Roam? And then switch back to Reginal Roam?