Our primary focus in this article is on Starlink vs. ISP as we compare and contrast the two internet access options to help you choose the best suited for your needs.
As numerous technological developments flood the world, so are internet service companies.
Today we have more and more mainstream ISPs cropping up.
Nonetheless, Starlink has cut a niche as the most reliable satellite network service provider.
But how does it rank compared to the other ISPs that preexisted its existence? This will be the focus of this presentation.
Starlink vs. ISP: Definition
Starlink is a satellite internet service provider, the latest big-name entrant in the industry, operating in 2014.
But the investment and zest of its CEO Elon Musk have pushed it to the ranks of arguably the largest satellite internet provider in the world.
It prides itself in being the only reliable internet service you can connect to while on the move, in rural areas, and on-air and sea.
Speaking of ISPs, we allude to the established internet companies that relied on old-school modes of conveying the service to clients, such as telephone lines.
The latest ISP development involves super-fast internet modes such as fiber optic and copper cables.
Some renowned ISPs operating in Canada and the US include Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
Starlink vs. ISP: Availability
The Starlink is available in Canada, US and Mexico, and other countries.
Starlink is available in almost every province and state of Canada and the US.
One of the primary features behind its exponential growth is its capability to cover even the areas that traditional ISP could barely cover.
Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, is ever committed to expanding Starlink’s reach, and the results are already showing.
You can now access the internet from other nations far from the US. The service is now available in countries like the following:
- Rwanda
- Nigeria
- Japan
- Mexico
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Colombia
- Peru
- Australia
- The Philippines
It is also available in most West European states, bar the Balkans.
Conversely, most of the ISPs we listed in the previous section are only available in the US and barely cover the remote parts of the country.
The cost of setting up the broadband connection to rural areas is the primary complexifying factor behind the slow roll-up of services to these locations.
Winner: Starlink is more far-reaching at exemplary speeds than ISPs and promises to cover more marginal areas in the future.
Starlink vs. ISP: Speed
Fiber optic cables.
If you are in a priority location, you can get speeds of between 60Mbps and 90Mbps on your downloads and minimum upload speeds of 9Mbps.
So are these speeds always available? Not necessarily, but it’s a great deal for rural dwellers who lack other viable internet access options.
ISPs such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile don’t have definite internet speeds as this depends on the internet type and package.
For instance, fiber optic internet subscribers are guaranteed top rates reaching 5Gbps.
Nonetheless, fiber internet is limited only to urban dwellers, and this is one main area where Starlink trounces mainstream ISPs.
Winner: ISPs with fiber internet deliver the best speeds of any internet type.
Starlink vs. ISP: Latency
A gamer is playing online.
We associate satellite internet services with latency, and rightly so because some satellites are far from the ground receivers.
But Starlink is ahead of the game with its low earth orbit-based satellites significantly curtailing this problem.
Users still experience a 40-ms to 50-ms lag, which is not too significant as it’s ideally suited for most internet-intensive applications like video streaming.
But if Starlink doesn’t serve you efficiently, you can never go wrong with ISPs, given their phenomenal latency rates.
For instance, on fiber, the latency is as low as 8ms, while on cable internet, it can hit lows of 12ms.
Winner: On latency, ISPs are way better than satellite internet options such as Starlink. Still, Starlink is pretty good on latency, as its lag rates barely go above 50 ms.
Starlink vs. ISP: Reliability
Inclement weather sign.
Starlink is highly dependable, and although its satellites are still prone to accidents, they are often insignificant to cause a complete outage.
The Starlink dish also reconnects to the nearest available satellite.
Nonetheless, you can be sure to have a network outage when there’s a storm, strong winds, and other extreme weather conditions.
But are cable connections and fiber dependable at all times? Compared to Starlink, they are least affected by inclement weather.
Nonetheless, as they depend on electricity, you cannot connect to the internet during a storm-induced power outage.
Winner: ISPs are far more reliable in all weather conditions, although Starlink remains the most dependable option in rural and remote settings.
Starlink vs. ISP: Subscription Cost
A subscription page.
Here’s a breakdown of Starlink Internet packages and their respective charges.
| Starlink Internet Package | Starlink Equipment Fee | Monthly |
| Starlink RVs | In-motion Hardware- $2,500or Portable Hardware- $599 | $150 |
| Starlink Residential | $599 | $110 |
| Starlink Business | $2500 | $500 |
Luckily with Starlink, you save on the installation fees as you will perform the connection yourself unless under special circumstances.
Still, the subscription and equipment fees are pretty high compared to what you’d get with ISP internet services which have relatively lower charges of approximately $58 per month.
Nonetheless, this depends on the service package you’re subscribed to and the internet speed.
Also, another upside of fiber and cable connections is that the connection fees are lower than for Starlink.
But again, Starlink offers things you won’t get with these ISPs, such as top-speed connections when moving with your RV.
You should go for ISPs if you’re in an urban area and looking for fast and low-cost internet.
But in a rural setting with coverage limitations for ISPs, anyone would be forced to go for Starlink despite the initial setup and monthly costs.
Winner: ISPs are cheaper to install and run.
Conclusion
Change in every field is inevitable, and over the years, internet companies are increasingly becoming more efficient and dependable.
The era of slow internet is long gone, and today, even people in the remotest parts of the US, such as Glasgow and Montana, an excess super-fast speeds at low costs.
For urban dwellers, things are far better than satellite internet access. They also can tap into super fast internet options like cable and fiber.
