US Mobile Takes Orbit with Starlink Bundles

US Mobile is offering mobile and home internet bundles for less than $50 per month, but only if you live in an area that’s eligible for Starlink’s cheapest plans.

US Mobile CEO Ahmed Khattak explained the bundle in a post on Reddit rather than issuing a traditional press release. The initial offering is considered “early access,” with what he called a
limited batch.”

If you can get in on the deal, you can choose from three bundle tiers based on Starlink’s residential service tiers. Here’s the breakdown for new customers:

• US Mobile Unlimited + Starlink Residential 100 Mbps: Starting at $47/mo.
• US Mobile Unlimited + Starlink Residential 200 Mbps: Starting at $77/mo.
• US Mobile Unlimited + Starlink Residential Max: Starting at $117/mo.

Existing US Mobile Unlimited customers can add Starlink plans for $30, $60, or $100 per month, depending on the service tier.

Unlimited plans from US Mobile start at $17 per month, but only if you pay for a year of service upfront. If you pay month to month, the price increases to $20. After the first year, the price reverts to “current pricing,” according to US Mobile.

US Mobile promises network unification

US Mobile specializes in prepaid mobile plans but stands out among mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) by letting each customer choose which of the three big networks to use. Its Warp 5G option uses Verizon, its Dark Star option uses AT&T, and its Light Speed option uses T-Mobile. Depending on your US Mobile tier, you may be charged $2 to switch networks. You get priority access until you max out monthly data.

With the addition of Starlink, “the same unification layer that lets us hand a line off between three terrestrial networks is the layer that now lets us hand a session off between terrestrial and celestial,” Khattak wrote in the Reddit post.

Starlink equipment and congestion pricing

All the billing will be handled through US Mobile for the new bundles, but customers will have to set up their own Starlink networks. They’ll receive Starlink kits in the mail, including a receiver dish, power supply, cables, and a WiFi 6 router.

Two things are required to get it all working: a stable power source, and a clear view of the Northern sky. This may require climbing on the roof or attaching the receiver dish to a pole.

The kit can cost around $350, but it’s free with the new US Mobile bundles. It’s worth noting, the kit can be used only at a single address.

US Mobile isn’t offering Roam plans from Starlink, or Starlink Mini kits that can be used in motion.

Paying less than $50 per month for bundled home and internet is fantastic, but there are a few ways your price could go up. If you live in an area with Starlink’s congestion pricing, you may not be able to order a bundle through US Mobile, or you could be charged up to $500. Your price for the service alone could also increase after six months. At current rates, that’s an increase of about $20 per month.

Learn more about Starlink pricing changes.

My Take: Great prices for the right customers

It’s great to see satellite internet and mobile bundles at these low prices, but they aren’t going to be available to everyone. Like Khattak said, this is a limited rollout. I couldn’t order at my suburban address in Utah, but I could order if I entered the address of a relative in rural Arizona.

These bundles won’t be a great choice for everyone, either. Starlink is difficult to set up, and speeds could drop far below the max download speeds if there are a lot of other customers in the area. And while it’s nice to be able to switch among the big three networks, your traffic is going to be prioritized relative to premium mobile traffic after you reach certain data limits (even though US Mobile calls its plans unlimited).

If you’re willing to pay upfront and don’t mind being last in line when the network is congested, this bundle may be a nice way to save money (if you can get in on it before it’s gone). But you might have a better experience choosing your local cable or fiber internet and going with one of their mobile bundles.