Starlink Just Doubled Your Roam Data: 100GB Now Standard in Australia
Breaking news for Australian Starlink travellers: as of January 13, 2026, the Roam 50GB plan is now Roam 100GB - at no extra cost. Here's what changed, what it means for your travels, and the one trade-off nobody's talking about.
If you're on Starlink Roam 50GB, you just got a free upgrade. Starlink quietly doubled the data cap overnight - no action required on your part. Your $80/month now gets you 100GB of high-speed data instead of 50GB.
But that's not the only change. There's a significant shift in how the plan works once you hit your limit, and it affects whether Roam Unlimited is still worth considering.
What Changed on January 13, 2026
| Before | After | |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed data | 50GB | 100GB |
| Monthly price | $80 | $80 (unchanged) |
| After hitting cap | Internet cut off | Unlimited low-speed data |
| Per-GB top-ups | $1.50/GB available | Removed |
| To restore speed | Buy more data | Upgrade to Unlimited only |
| Usage alerts | None | 80% and 100% notifications |
The headline is the doubled data. But the real story is in rows 3-5.
The Good News: You're Never Truly Disconnected
Previously, if you burned through your 50GB mid-trip, you were cut off. You could buy more data at $1.50 per GB, but if you forgot or didn't notice, your Starlink became a very expensive paperweight until your next billing cycle.
Now, when you hit 100GB, you automatically drop to unlimited low-speed data for the rest of your billing period. Think of it like Standby Mode speeds - around 0.5 Mbps.
That's slow, but it's not nothing. You can still:
- Make phone calls (WiFi calling)
- Send and receive texts
- Check emails
- Use messaging apps
- Browse basic websites
- Check weather forecasts
What you can't do on low-speed:
- Stream video
- Video calls
- Large downloads
- Cloud photo backup
This is a genuine safety net. If you're out in remote Australia and exceed your data, you've still got emergency connectivity. That peace of mind is worth something.
The Trade-Off Nobody's Mentioning
Here's what Starlink didn't highlight: per-GB top-ups are gone.
Previously on Roam 50GB, you could buy extra data at $1.50 per GB whenever you needed it. Used 55GB? Buy an extra 10GB for $15 and carry on at full speed.
That flexibility no longer exists.
Now your only option to restore high-speed data is to upgrade to Roam Unlimited at $195/month. And here's the kicker - that upgrade stays in effect for future billing cycles. You can't just top up for the rest of this month and drop back down.
What This Means Practically
If you consistently use 50-100GB: You're a winner. Free upgrade, no action needed.
If you occasionally spike to 60-70GB: This is where it stings. Previously you'd buy an extra 10-20GB for $15-30. Now you either live with slow speeds or upgrade to Unlimited for $195. That's a $115+ jump.
If you regularly exceed 100GB: Unlimited was always your plan. Nothing changes.
The New Break-Even Maths
Old calculation: Roam 50GB ($80) + top-ups at $1.50/GB broke even with Unlimited ($195) at around 125GB total.
New calculation: There is no middle ground. You get 100GB at full speed, then you're on low-speed until you upgrade to Unlimited.
The decision is now binary: Is 100GB enough, or do you need unlimited?
Who Benefits Most From This Change
Clear Winners
- Weekend travellers - 100GB is plenty for a few days away. You'll rarely hit the cap.
- Couples without kids - Two people streaming consciously will stay well under 100GB.
- Remote workers - Video calls, emails, cloud apps. 100GB covers most work patterns.
- Safety-conscious travellers - The low-speed fallback means you're never stranded without connectivity.
- Anyone who used to stress about the 50GB limit - Double the buffer, same price.
Mixed Outcome
- Occasional heavy users - If you sometimes spike above 50GB but rarely hit 100GB, you're better off. If you sometimes hit 60-80GB and needed top-ups, you might now hit 100GB and face the slow-speed fallback.
- Anyone who relied on per-GB flexibility - That option is gone. Plan accordingly.
No Change
- Roam Unlimited users - Your plan is unchanged.
- Standby Mode users - Your plan is unchanged.
- Full-time families - You were already on Unlimited (or should be).
Is Roam Unlimited Still Worth It?
The gap between plans just got wider:
| Plan | Monthly | Data | After Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roam 100GB | $80 | 100GB high-speed | Unlimited low-speed |
| Roam Unlimited | $195 | Unlimited high-speed | N/A |
That's a $115/month difference - or $1,380/year.
Roam 100GB Makes Sense If:
- You travel part-time (weekends, holidays, seasonal)
- You're data-conscious and monitor usage
- You're a couple or solo traveller
- You use mobile data as your primary and Starlink as backup
- 100GB covers your typical usage with room to spare
Roam Unlimited Makes Sense If:
- You travel full-time with family
- Kids are streaming constantly
- You work remotely with heavy data needs (large file transfers, constant video calls)
- You don't want to think about data ever
- You regularly exceed 100GB
The Middle Ground Is Gone
Previously, if you used 70GB one month and 120GB the next, you could flex with per-GB top-ups. Now you need to pick a lane. Either 100GB is enough, or it isn't.
If you're on the borderline, track your usage for a few months. The Starlink app shows exactly how much data you've used this billing period.
How to Check Your Current Usage
- Open the Starlink app
- Tap the account icon (bottom right)
- Look for "Data Usage"
- Check your current billing period usage
Starlink will now notify you at 80% (80GB) and 100% (100GB) of your high-speed data. These alerts didn't exist before - use them.
What About Australia-Specific Considerations?
Good news: Australia is NOT on the exclusion list.
Some countries (Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and about 30 others) are stuck on Roam 50GB. Australia gets the full upgrade to Roam 100GB.
The pricing remains in Australian dollars:
- Roam 100GB: $80/month
- Roam Unlimited: $195/month
- Standby Mode: $8.50/month
And the low-speed fallback works exactly like Standby Mode speeds - enough for WiFi calling, texts, and basic connectivity across remote Australia.
Updated Plan Decision Guide
| If you... | Choose... |
|---|---|
| Travel a few weekends a year | Roam 100GB |
| Travel seasonally (winter lap, etc.) | Roam 100GB when travelling, Standby when home |
| Are a couple, data-conscious | Roam 100GB |
| Work remotely on the road | Roam 100GB (monitor usage first month) |
| Travel full-time solo | Roam 100GB |
| Travel full-time as a couple | Roam 100GB or Unlimited (depends on streaming habits) |
| Travel full-time with family | Roam Unlimited |
| Have kids who stream constantly | Roam Unlimited |
| Don't want to think about data | Roam Unlimited |
| Only need backup/emergency connectivity | Standby Mode ($8.50) |
Quick Summary
What happened: Starlink doubled Roam data from 50GB to 100GB at no extra cost, effective January 13, 2026.
The bonus: After 100GB, you now get unlimited low-speed data instead of being cut off. Emergency connectivity is always available.
The trade-off: Per-GB top-ups are gone. If you exceed 100GB and need speed, your only option is upgrading to Unlimited ($195/month).
Who wins: Anyone who uses 50-100GB per month. Weekend travellers. Couples. Remote workers. Safety-conscious travellers.
Who loses: Anyone who relied on per-GB flexibility for occasional overages. That middle-ground option no longer exists.
Action required: None. If you're on Roam 50GB, you've already been upgraded to Roam 100GB automatically.
Related Guides
- Starlink Roam Plans Explained: Standby, 100GB & Unlimited (Updated)
- Where Did My Data Go? The Starlink Data Traps Nobody Warns You About
- iPhone Automation: Stop Your Phone Switching to Mobile Data
- Starlink Mini Setup Guide for Australian Travellers
Hitting the road with your Starlink Mini? Browse our mounting solutions designed for Australian conditions, or check out our 12V power cables for seamless vehicle integration.