Is Starlink Internet Worth the Price Tag?

The 2019 launch of Starlink was shrouded in anticipation and excitement, with the whole world watching SpaceX to see what their groundbreaking technology would mean for the future of the internet. Elon Musk’s satellite internet system promised potential users high-speed internet with low latency, and, most importantly, accessibility in some of the most rural parts of the world previously forced to deal with limited and unreliable internet.

However, the most significant downside of using Starlink as an internet provider is that it’s expensive. The exact cost difference between Starlink and ordinary internet service providers differs from country to country, but on average, users in the UK and the US can expect to pay nearly double for Starlink on a monthly basis. There’s also a hefty equipment fee which is significantly more expensive than an ordinary fiber router.

So, while there’s a lot of hype surrounding Elon Musk’s cutting-edge satellite internet and the undeniable potential it brings the world in terms of global internet access, the question becomes, is Starlink actually worth its hefty price tag?

In short, it all depends on your specific needs, your budget and most importantly, your location. Before we get into the details, we’ll have a closer look at what Starlink is, how it works and what it aims to achieve, and then we’ll have a look at the key issues to bear in mind when considering using Starlink as your home internet provider.

What Is Starlink and How Does Starlink Work?

Starlink is an internet service provider that uses a constellation of over 6,000 satellites to beam internet data down to Earth. It does so by means of radio signals rather than cables, like ordinary providers, and these signals are then broadcast to satellites in orbit from ground stations on Earth. From the satellites, the data is relayed back to ordinary users on Earth.

What Does Starlink Aim to Achieve?

The idea behind the advanced technology used by SpaceX to create Starlink is to improve internet access around the world. In addition to providing internet access to those located in extremely rural locations, the other objective is to improve internet quality in places who have previously had very low-quality internet.

To achieve these objectives, Starlink’s model is based on using satellites that are closer to Earth than ever before – that is, satellites orbiting about 500 kilometres away from the planet as opposed to alternative providers whose satellites are closer to 35,000 kilometres away.

Among other things, Starlink is also hoping to increase the number of satellites in their constellation to about 40,000 which will help them achieve global internet coverage with significantly reduced service dropouts.
 

Considerations for Using Starlink As Your Internet Provider

If, like many people, you’re wondering whether or not Starlink is worth the expensive monthly subscription and high cost of investing in the neccessary equipment, there really is no single, straightforward answer – it all depends on where you’re based, what you’re looking for and what your budget constraints are, among other things.

Here are some of the main issues to consider with regards to using Starlink as your internet service provider:

Latency

Starlink is able to offer users low latency – the service promises between 20 and 60 milliseconds for land-based users.

It’s important to note, however, that latency can vary depending on where you are. However, while Starlink’s latency may not be as low in rural areas as it is in urban areas, it’s still likely to be lower than the latency offered by fiber.

Accessibility

The main feature of Starlink’s satellite internet is that it’s accessible to a significantly larger customer base than any opposition providers. Due to its advanced technology and large, every-growing, close-to-earth satellite constellation, users are able to make use of Starlink’s internet services in parts of the world that were previously unable to access the internet at all.

Relative High Speed

The speed of the internet that Starlink is able to provide is completely dependent on where in the world users are located.

Generally speaking, it has the potential to be quick, but it may not have quite the same speed of high-tech fibre service providers in urban locations.

That being said, users in rural areas that have either no internet access or very slow connectivity are likely to find that Starlink is relatively fast.

It’s also worth noting that internet speeds are likely to improve over time, as additional satellites are added to Starlink’s constellation and congestion issues are improved.

Monthly Cost

There’s no doubt about the fact that Starlink is more expensive every month than fibre internet service providers, sometimes as much as double. However, unlike fibre, it does offer you accessibility wherever you may go, so you’re not confined to a single location.

This is worth considering if you’re somebody who is regularly on the move, because as much as the monthly cost may be higher than fibre, you’ll benefit from only having to work with one internet service provider.

Investment in Equipment

In order to use Starlink as an internet service provider, you need to invest in the equipment which is pretty pricey – about $500 (nearly GBP400) for the standard residential kit which includes a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router base unit.

They do have a pretty decent 30-day return policy if you’re not happy with the service, so that does remove a bit of the risk involved in such a significant purchase.

Congestion

Some users have complained about congestion – that is, sporadically low speeds due to high usage. This certainly is a risk as it’s unpredictable, but the promise is that as additional satellites are added to the constellation, congestion issues will become far less prevalent. Sometimes, users may also experience low speeds due to adverse weather conditions, but this isn’t particularly common.

Is Starlink Worth the Hype?

Starlink has revolutionised the potential for satellite internet providers, and as the technology continues to advance and the constellation grows larger, its services promise to become more accessible, effective and efficient. Whether or not it’s worth the hype is completely dependent on where you’re based and what you already have access to; your budget; and your needs in terms of internet speed and more.