The idea for Starlink came from Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, and it is a cutting-edge satellite internet service. With the help of a vast network of low-Earth orbiting satellites, this program hopes to revolutionize global connectivity by providing internet access to almost anywhere on the planet.
SpaceX envisions a massive constellation of satellites in near orbit around the Earth that will serve as a platform for bringing high-speed internet to underserved areas with little access to current internet infrastructure.
The impact of Starlink: Australians living in rural and regional regions stand to gain the most from Starlink’s promise to provide much higher internet connections. These regions frequently rely on fixed wireless or NBN satellite connections, which might provide slow speeds.
What Is the Way Starlink Works?
The low-Earth orbit satellite constellation that makes up the Starlink network transmits signals between user devices and ground stations on Earth, completing a reliable broadband connection. Starlink satellites’ close proximity to Earth allows faster signal connections for homes because of lower signal travel distances.
The Current Developments: As of February 2023, SpaceX had put over 3,800 Starlink satellites into orbit with no problems. The business has permission to launch an additional 12,000 satellites, and it is actively seeking permission to launch an additional 30,000 satellites.
Australia’s Starlink: Starlink began conducting trials across northern Victoria and southern New South Wales in April 2021, marking the country’s first use of the technology. The service later grew to include 20 Starlink ground stations spread across the nation. The majority of citizens in several states and territories can now utilize the company’s services, claims the business.
Pricing and Plans: Choosing a Starlink internet plan will cost you at least $1,163, which covers the following:
Fees for the unlimited data plan are $139 per month.
The cost of the hardware, which includes the Starlink dish, router, power supply, wires, and mounting tripod, is $924.
Shipping costs: between $100 and $150
It’s important to keep in mind that occasionally, promotions could lower hardware costs and that special deals might even exclude shipping and handling charges.
Exciting Partnership with Telstra: Telstra’s announcement of its partnership with Starlink in July 2023 marked a significant development. Telstra will be able to provide voice services and satellite internet plans to Australians living in distant and rural areas thanks to this cooperation. In order to differentiate itself from solo Starlink services, the joint venture will provide special features like phone services and expert installation alternatives.
Speed and Performance: On normal plans, Starlink offers download speeds between 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps. While upload speeds range from 5Mbps to 15Mbps, latency is approximately 25ms to 50ms. The corporate plans from Starlink provide upload and download rates of up to 25 Mbps and 350 Mbps, respectively, with latency as low as 20 ms. Ookla’s Q3 and Q4 2022 reports show that median download speeds for Starlink users in Australia were 106.43 Mbps.
Compared to NBN, Starlink plans to start off cheaper, but the advantages of Starlink, such as faster speeds and unlimited data, come at a greater cost. Starlink may provide more dependable speed depending on the NBN technology available in your location, but its setup costs are significantly greater.
When comparing Starlink and 5G, the latter appears to give higher speeds. The decision between the two is contingent on accessibility and coverage, though. While 5G is superior in urban areas, Starlink is preferred for distant locations with few connectivity alternatives.
In summary, anyone looking for better internet access, especially those living in underserved areas, will find Starlink to be an appealing option thanks to its outstanding potential.