Elon Musk is going over and beyond to make satellite internet readily available for anyone on planet earth, whether in rural areas or urban centers. The tech guru is on his way to launching over 12,000 satellites into low earth orbit for telecommunication purposes by 2026. 

With this, Starlink internet has created waves in the satellite internet industry, all for good reasons.

Satellite internet provides decent Internet even in places with no ground infrastructure. With the ability to provide fast and low latency internet, satellite internet, especially Starlink internet, proves to be a better option than cable and other internet sources. Though most can identify them, important data facts remain a mystery. This then begs us to ask how fast Starlink’s Internet is.

Starlink’s median download speed in the U.S. at the start of 2022 was rated at 97.2Mbps, 13.9Mbps, and a Latency of 45 Ms.  Median latency also got a little worse Starlink users from 43 M.S. to 48ms.

In the Ookla report of the second quarter, Starlink speeds were reduced worldwide. Understanding the proper speed for your internet provider is a great factor when choosing the perfect internet service provider. 

Below is a detailed scope of how fast Starlink internet functions.

Starlink speeds

Ookla, a profound company that tests speeds of internet networks and relays data through a speed-testing app, examined Starlink speeds in the US, Canada, and other countries to see its performance.

Ookla reported median download speeds for Starlink had increased between the first quarters in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., the service’s speeds saw a 38 percent increment, while speeds in Canada had rocketed by nearly 58 percent.

Starlink users should expect speeds of around 90.55 Mbps to 97.40 Mbps. However, as much as Starlink’s download speeds have increased, upload speeds reduced by almost 33 percent, from 16.29 Mbps to 9.33 Mbps in the first quarter of 2022.

Speed test Intelligence reports revealed that download speeds for Starlink across America, i.e., the U.S., and in Europe, for example, France, Germany, and the  U.K, dropped by 9 percent and 54 percent from the second quarter of 2021 to 2022 as more users signed up for the service.

However, Starlink reached download speeds of 60 Mbps during the second quarter of 2022. This is enough for a connection for one connected device that can handle all your incoming traffic. There was a reduction in speed quantities for Starlink across all countries over the last year. On the other hand, Latency fared much better, registering rates of 23 ms in most countries, New Zealand included. 

Starlink’s Latency, like any other satellite internet provider, should be high, but surprisingly, early tests show that it has low Latency averaging  34 milliseconds. While fiber is faster, you cannot get one with a 17ms, any latency under 60ms is solid for most applications. Jumping from 40 ms to 55ms, Starlink’s median Latency has increased.

These changes are negligible for most users, though they can benefit users such as online games, shooters, and combat gamers. For most users, these dips are still valuable for parts with poor or slow service and no affordable options for fast Internet. 

Starlink outshines the other satellite internet providers like Hughesnet and Viasat. These providers offer speeds at a fifth of Starlink and a ten times higher Latency.

Starlink availability and coverage

Starlink internet is available in over 42 countries. Primarily the northern states are well covered. Starlink is also well available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom Starlink is prioritizing higher latitude areas such as Canada and the upper United States.

This differs from the Ookla speed test data that indicated that Starlink satellites eventually occupy much central U.S space; the goal will be to connect Starlink to all parts of the globe. In a tweet, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, made it clear that Starlink would be readily available in cities like Seattle first and progress to the equator. 

All satellite internet coverage varies by each second. With 1700 satellites in orbit, some areas will experience better coverage depending on the time the constellation passes through. Areas like Belgium, Brazil, and Chile are experiencing solid speeds.

At this time, there are strains of satellites in about every part of the world. Interestingly, clients in major cities are willing to try out Starlink a go in the U.S. Starlink is slowly gaining fans who have access to traditional ISPs. Unfortunately, the high demand pushes Starlink deliveries to later dates that said. These delays are hitting California,

Starlink speed reviews

Starlink’s internet service has received tremendous positive reviews from a few customers. In the Starlink subreddit, where users post images of their new satellites with accompanying speed tests, you can scout and see what we are talking about.

In Missouri, download speeds of up to 150 Mbps are being recorded. A user in Idaho showed 72-hour test results and recorded an average of 71 Mbps. 68. Another U.K. user saw a massive internet speed leap after installing Starlink. A customer, Aaron Wilkes, residing in Kent, stated that his speeds went from 1 Mbps to 175 Mbps. He states that though he pays more for Starlink, he feels the price is worth it. 

With the praises, some Starlink users have complained of the slowing speeds. The PCMag in July quoted several users complaining about their speeds. An example is a Texas guy who encountered download rates of less than 1Mbps, especially during the evening. Despite the claims, Starlink has surpassed other satellite internet providers by great gaps in both speeds and Latency

Starlink Internet Plans

Starlink offers three internet plans. The varying factor across the three plans is limited Starlink availability. Below are the existing Starlink internet plans available for use:

• Starlink business/ premium – Introduced in early 2022, Starlink Premium came with faster speeds and higher prices. Initially known as Starlink Premium, it has been branded as Starlink Business.
• Starlink R.V. – Starlink just opened an R.V. satellite internet that caters to your internet connection while moving. It functions in most parts of the United States and Australia but does not come cheap. You will pay $599 for Starlink equipment and $135 monthly for service. Fortunately, Starlink for R.V.s allows you to pay-as-you-go policy and pause and resume service monthly whenever you want.
• Starlink maritime – installing the maritime on your boat is very costly. It is a costly internet plan as the installation equipment, and an upfront payment totals up to $10,000. These prices are out of reach for average boat owners, but it is a perfect trial if you are well-loaded.  Starlink Maritime is a good choice, as witnessed when the Royal Caribbean cruise line recently switched from Viasat to Starlink Wi-Fi for its passengers.

Is Starlink internet worth it?

As SpaceX continues to find ways to expand its coverage by sending more satellites into the atmosphere to support its blossoming satellite network, there is room for more improvements. Let us endure the wait time, as Starlink is something to watch.

Starlink is the best pricing and easiest user internet provider that has ever existed. Apart from high download speeds, Starlink has a desirable data allotment and is cost-efficient. The most notable upper hand you will see when comparing Starlink to other internet providers is the monthly data allotment. Starlink offers unlimited data with no data caps. 

Although their competitors also offer unlimited data, your speeds will be slowed only when you reach the data cap for your plan. Additionally, there is a notable difference in equipment costs. Starlink requires you to pay $599–$2,500 for the Starlink kit. The price variance depends on whether you opt for Starlink Business. Some pros of having a Starlink satellite:

• Starlink has unlimited internet data and fast speeds that help rural areas access a fast internet connection.
• It provides lower Latency than other satellite internet providers, making activities like gaming easier.
• It is easy to install- it has a simple DIY installation process that does not require technicians

Some cons of using Starlink internet include:

• Availability is limited, resulting in long waiting hours
• Enormous up- front equipment fee

With satellite internet providers facing competition, customers should hope for fast internet speeds, more coverage, and discounted prices. Starlink is also designed to withstand snow, extreme heat, heavy rain, sleet, and hail. The dish is hydrophobic and can melt accumulated snow.

Conclusion 

Starlink speeds are advertised with abilities and download speeds ranging from 50 to 500 Mbps for its various plans. Due to fluctuations, the Starlink speeds can vary, slower or faster than advertised. A recent speed test report from Ookla reported that Starlink’s download speeds hit 105 Mbps during the last quarter of 2021.

Achieving high-speed Internet transmission in rural areas was tricky before satellite internet became available. Many considered Starlink most appropriate for people with no ground cable or ground infrastructure at the beginning of use.

The recent data does not change that conclusion, but Starlink users are getting slower-than-expected speeds to have good reason to be frustrated. With Starlink and other satellite internet providers, you can still get fast Internet even when you lack the necessary infrastructure.