Starlink business is the premium variant of Elon Musk’s game-changing satellite broadband offering. Offering greater bandwidth, improved download speeds and the same exceptional latency Starlink is known for, Starlink for Business offers greater levels of capacity and reliability to meet the needs of business users.
Key specifications:
- Expected Download Speed (mbps): 100-350
- Expected Upload Speed (mbps): 10-40
- Latency (ms): 20-40
Why should I consider Starlink Business?
Elon Musk himself admits that Starlink doesn’t aim to conquer the broadband landscape, with the service holding limited appeal among urban users who already enjoy high-speed broadband options. However, Starlink offers a compelling, and cost effective propositions to rural and semi-rural users who stand to benefit from enormous performance gains. Let’s look at some of the key benefits in greater detail.
Low Latency
“Latency” refers to the delay between the sending and receiving of a data signal. Satellite broadband users traditionally suffered with poor high latency, due to the exceptional distancies involved when transmitting signals between geostationary satellites (at around 22,000 miles above the earth) and earth-based ground stations.
Starlink eliminates the issue of latency thanks to its vast network of low earth orbiting (LOE) satellites, which circle the globe just 340 miles above the surface. The result is a signal latency of between 20 and 40 ms as opposed to over 600ms for traditional satellite internet.
Who Benefits?
Starlink’s latency figures also compare well with traditional, fixed-link connections. This helps support activities such as:
- Video Conferencing
- Online betting and bidding
- Remote Operations
- Real-time monitoring
High Speeds
While the speeds offered by Starlink aren’t groundbreaking compared to the best fixed-link connections, for rural users Starlink for Business offers an easy way to access high-performing broadband when the quality of local broadband infrastructure is lacking. Let’s have a look at how Starlink for business stack up in terms of download speeds:
Expected speeds (mbps)
- Starlink for business: 150-500
- DSL 5-35
- Cable 10-500
- Full Fibre 250-1000
For rural businesses which don’t have access to a wired internet connection, Starlink also offers attractive speeds when compared to traditional Satellite internet which typically achieves 2-30mbps download speeds.
Portability
One of the less discussed benefits of satellite broadband is its portability. Starlink offers the ability to temporarily relocate your connection via its aptly named “Portability” service. For a modest supplementary fee, your Starlink infrastructure can be moved to anywhere within the same continent, providing enterprise-grade connectivity for team-building weekends, rural conferences or any situation where you need to stay connected in a remote area.
Reliability and Disaster recovery
Due to the essential nature of satellite internet, the system is more resilient in the face of natural disasters due to lower reliance on fixed, ground level hardware such as cabling and telephone exchange infrastructure. Weather events such as flooding and storms are unlikely to bring down your connection, so long as your dish is kept safe.
Blanket Coverage
Starlink coverage now serves all of mainland UK (coming soon to Shetland) offering users a plug-and-play internet connection whether they’re based in the remotest reaches of the Scottish highlands or rural Dorset.
No data caps
If you’re familiar with satellite internet, you’ll know that data caps can massively constrain the usability of the service. Starlink doesn’t cap data usage at all, great for data-intensive workplaces and those all-important zoom calls.
Conclusion
Supporting up to 20 users and offering unsurpassed speeds and latency in the world of satellite internet, Starlink offers a compelling alternative to rural businesses who want the same connectivity as their urban counterparts.
