Starlink Internet Review: Decent Speeds for at Home or on the Go
- by CNET
- Mar 15, 2024
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with fixed residential service starting at $120 a month.
Locating local internet providers
Still, despite the sky-high costs, Starlink will be the best broadband option for many, particularly residents of rural areas or people who need a connection while on the go.
Starlink currently offers the fastest speeds of any satellite internet provider at the moment, up to 150Mbps for its Standard plan and 220Mbps with Priority service. That's not a bad for
rural internet , Starlink is available to 99.6% of US households. That's the highest coverage percentage of any internet provider, including Hughesnet and Viasat.
There are a few pockets, specifically in southern California, West Virginia and New Mexico, where service is "coming soon." Still, Starlink's coverage is impressive. I ran serviceability checks using addresses from California to Connecticut and down south in Alabama and rural Texas and received a response indicating that "Starlink is immediately available" every time.
Service isn't limited to just the US. According to the company, the list of countries currently served by the growing network of low-orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and others.
Starlink's fleet expansion continues at a rapid rate
Starlink has been busy in 2024, sending more than 30 payloads into the sky including a recent launch on August 12 carrying 23 new satellites. The total fleet now sits at roughly 6,000 functional satellites, but there's still a way to go. Starlink will likely need at least 10,000 satellites in orbit before it can claim to offer full service to most of the globe, and SpaceX has shown signs that it wants as many as 42,000 satellites in its constellation.
What does this mean for Starlink internet?
Ideally, Starlink's coverage and speeds will improve with every launch. Starlink's website says, "Starlink users typically experience download speeds between 25 and 220Mbps, with a majority of users experiencing speeds over 100Mbps." The internet speed-tracking site Ookla reported that Starlink offered average download speeds of nearly 67Mbps in the US during the first quarter of 2023.
That's down significantly from the end of 2021 when Starlink had median download speeds of just over 100Mbps. The drop may be the result of growing subscriptions and increased network congestion. Hopefully, average speeds will jump back up to around 100Mbps or higher soon as groups of new satellites are added to the fleet.
How does Starlink compare?
Starlink isn't replacing your fiber, cable or even fixed wireless connections like Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet just yet, or possibly ever. That doesn't seem to be the intent behind the service. Starlink is best suited to provide a practical solution for broadband in underserved areas or for a mobile demographic -- all areas where traditional wired or fixed wireless services are scarce or unavailable.
Such areas have previously had two internet options: Hughesnet or Viasat. Starlink has emerged as a third option, so how does it compare to its satellite internet rivals?
Hughesnet can be a bit cheaper per month than Starlink, with standard rates of $75 to $120 for max download speeds of 50 to 100Mbps. Viasat is also cheaper, with a standard rate of $100 per month for up to 150Mbps. So Starlink is a slightly more expensive option than both Hughesnet and Starlink despite the faster speed potential, unlimited data and lower latency.
Pricing can be a toss-up between all three satellite providers depending on the ISP or plan you choose and the route you go with the equipment. Starlink holds the advantage in basically every other category, including max speeds, latency, data allowances and contract requirements.
What's the final word on Starlink?
Starlink is an exciting and much-needed addition to rural internet's long-limited landscape. Although service is slower and more expensive than many other providers and connection types, the relatively high speed potential, low latency, unlimited data and no contract requirements boost its value as a rural internet provider.
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