Starlink is offering a new option to people stranded on its waiting lists, but the solution may not be ideal for everyone. The satellite internet company recently sent out an e-mail offering people who have not managed to get access to the satellite internet service yet its new Best Effort option. This will grant the company’s waiting customers access to the network but could have a huge impact on the quality of service they receive. Deciding to just wait may also be a worse option, with mid-2023 being Starlink’s best guess for when a solid connection will be available for some customers.

However, waiting lists won’t always be an issue. Starlink has already launched a couple of thousand satellites, but these are just a small portion of the total number it intends to put in the sky. When the network is finally complete, people will theoretically have access to high-speed internet almost anywhere on Earth. This could be huge for people living in areas without services like fiber internet. Even in countries as rich as the United States, projects that would bring fiber internet to several rural areas are just financially impractical. However, Starlink offers those areas a solution.

Satellite network

There are currently three packages available. The standard package works from one location and is meant to serve homes that want Starlink access. Starlink RV is more expensive but works on the road — users can even use it while moving now. And then there’s a service designed for yacht owners thatMusk’s company recently got the green light for.The yacht-based service will be the most expensive package by far, with a four-figure monthly fee. However, Musk claims this is less than yacht owners currently pay, and they will get far better service than current satellite internet providers offer. As mentioned, Starlink is available in most countries around the world, with notable exceptions being places like Russia, China, and Iran. Starlink services have alsohelped Ukrainian forces and civilians communicatefollowing Russia’s early 2022 invasion of the country.

How will the Best Effort service work?

You can already beat the waiting lists

Starlink customers have already had a way to beat the waiting lists for a while now, but it may not be as good an option as Best Effort.Starlink RV does not have a waiting list itself, and it will work in areas with waiting lists. The service also has another advantage over Starlink Residential; you can take it with you anywhere you go and, following a recent FCC approval, you can even use it in a vehicle while that vehicle is moving. However, there are a few pretty major downsides that come with the system.

Firstly, if you’re purely using it to hop Starlink’s waiting list, Best Effort may now be your best option. Starlink RV currently has the same bottleneck and de-prioritization practices as Best Effort when it is being used in a waiting list area. Secondly, the system is also more expensive, costing $135 per month as opposed to the $110 per month that Residential will set you back. Then there is the fact that the RV plan is a separate subscription, so if you want to keep your place on the Starlink Residential waiting list, timing any overlap might be very difficult. RV is a great option and may have allowed a few Starlink enthusiasts to connect months earlier than they would have otherwise, but if you’re still waiting to get the Residential package and don’t plan on traveling a lot, Starlink’s latest offer is probably your best option.

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