Is Starlink a solution for rural broadband?

Alex Tofts of Broadband Genie delves into Elon Musk's Starlink project and whether it could present a solution for rural broadband.

There are many benefits to living in rural areas, but connectivity is not one of them.

While things have improved for some and many villages now have access to fibre broadband, coverage is not universal. Speeds are still slow in too many parts of the countryside.

According to Ofcom, around 123,000 homes and businesses (0.4%) are still without access to a decent broadband connection. The long distances between street cabinets and rural properties mean average speeds for some are still as low as 10-11Mbps.

We asked Jamie Kavanagh, a contributor at Broadband.co.uk, could Elon Musk's Starlink project be the answer.

What is SpaceX Starlink?

Musk is using his company SpaceX to launch a 'constellation' of Starlink satellites to provide connectivity to every area of the globe. The idea is to create a mesh of internet-enabled satellites across the globe and provide access to anyone with a Starlink terminal. As long as you have access to a Starlink terminal, you'll be able to access the internet from anywhere on planet earth. He provided shipments of Starlink terminals to Ukraine to help keep the country online, so it obviously works.

But is it a solution to the current challenges of rural broadband?

Starlink speed and coverage

Starlink is in the process of being set up, so coverage is not yet universal.

So far, Starlink has launched 2,000 satellites but will require a total of 12,000 satellites to be fully operational. It's estimated that the constellation won't be complete until 2030. As satellites reach their orbit, they come online and provide internet, so it's a rollout that will provide access steadily as it goes.

Availability in the UK is currently limited to parts of south-west and northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. But coverage is pretty good for the rural parts of these areas, whereas fixed-line services are unavailable and mobile broadband signal is poor. You can enter your address to the 'Service Address' box on the Starlink page to see whether it's available in your area.

If you are within the Starlink coverage zone, you will be able to get a signal as long as your property has a clear view of the sky.

What you'll need to access Starlink

You'll need a Starlink terminal to be able to use the service. This includes a small satellite dish and router to send and receive signals. The satellite dish can be fixed to the side of your property and joined to the router via a cable. Once plugged in, you'll have WiFi connectivity and Ethernet, depending on whether you buy Starlink or Starlink Premium. Starlink currently costs £489 to buy with £50 postage. Internet access currently costs £89 per month, but should reduce as more subscribers join.

Starlink Premium is not yet available in the UK.

How fast is Starlink?

The broadband speeds achievable with Starlink vary depending on where in the world you are. It also depends on how many subscribers there are in the country. A speed test carried out in September 2021 shows download speeds of 111.66Mbps in the UK.

The UK currently has an average fixed broadband speed of 53.16Mbps, so Starlink is faster than fixed-line broadband in many areas. However, those speeds are reducing as more people sign up to use the service.
Bandwidth between satellites and ground stations is limited. The more people use it, the more traffic has to use that bandwidth. This means everyone's traffic will slow gradually as subscribers increase.

There are plans to expand Starlink's bandwidth and help reduce this slowdown in speed, but this will take time.
There are currently no data caps with Starlink but that may change as more people sign up.

Cost of Starlink vs standard broadband

Standard fixed-line broadband starts at less than £20 per month. Setup is usually free and there is no upfront cost with fixed-line broadband.

Compare that to the £489 + £50 shipping, plus £89 per month for Starlink, and you'll see that Starlink is not a particularly cost-effective solution. It is therefore only something to consider if you have no other option for fast broadband connectivity.

The speeds will vary depending on the type of broadband available in your area. If you can only get ADSL, you'll be restricted to an average download speed of 10Mb - much slower than Starlink.

If fibre is available, you might be able to get much better speeds, with some services able to deliver a faster and more reliable speed than Starlink. Some areas even have access to full-fibre broadband that can offer 1000Mb or more.

Cost of Starlink vs mobile broadband

If you live somewhere with a strong enough 4G or 5G signal, mobile broadband is a viable alternative.

Plans can start from under £20 per month, but data usage limits are a concern, so it is recommended that you search for an unlimited data plan, which will cost more.

You'll need to pair your phone with your computer or use a mobile broadband router or dongle, but otherwise, there is no setup fee unless the plan includes an up-front cost for equipment.

Speeds vary depending on where you live, but could provide very similar speeds as standard fixed-line broadband for 4G areas, and even faster if you're lucky enough to have 5G.

Will Starlink solve the rural broadband problem?

We would say that Starlink is a solution to the rural broadband problem, not the solution.

If your business or lifestyle depends on fast broadband, and you have no way to get a faster connection using either a fixed-line or a mobile broadband link, it could be the answer. If budget and affordability is an issue, it might not be the answer. It's expensive to buy and to subscribe to Starlink.

That £89 per month to access Starlink is around 4 times the cost of your average fixed-line broadband contract. It might be faster for now, but that's an extra outlay few people can afford.

We don't want to take away from Starlink as it's an amazing feat. It is currently providing internet access to people who wouldn't otherwise get online, so is to be applauded. However, it isn't going to solve every problem for everyone. It may help overcome some of the challenges rural communities face with connectivity. But, nothing will replace the need for proper investment in a much more equal broadband network and we're still waiting for that!