Starlink Mini users just lost their beloved pause feature

Starlink, the satellite internet service provider, has announced that it will now charge a $5 monthly fee to pause its high-speed, low-latency internet service. This change affects Roam, Residential, and Priority subscribers in the US, most of Europe, and Canada, with some exceptions. The free pause feature, which was previously a selling point for the Starlink Mini, has been replaced with a $5/month (or €5/month) Standby Mode that offers "unlimited low-speed data" for backup and emergency use. This move has been criticized as a "bait and switch" for customers who purchased the Starlink Mini under the promise of a "pay as you go" plan. The decision to charge for the pause feature has been met with disappointment from Starlink users, who may have relied on the free pause option for their intermittent internet needs. The change is seen as a shift in Starlink's pricing strategy, potentially impacting the affordability and accessibility of the service for some customers.