Rural and regional Australians have drawn the short straw when it comes to the NBN rollout. Satellite NBN (Sky Muster) is the slowest and least reliable of all NBN technology types, and if you're not using Sky Muster you're probably on Fixed Wireless NBN which isn't much better.
If you're wondering if it's worth exploring other options such as Starlink we don't blame you.
Is Starlink better than Satellite NBN?
The short answer? If it's speed you're after than Starlink is definitely better than Satellite NBN and with new plan options it now starts cheaper than ever. However, the comparison of the two satellite internet products needs to go much further.
Starlink vs. Satellite NBN: Price
If budget is your main concern, then Satellite NBN is cheaper than Starlink. You can get connected with a basic Satellite NBN plan from around $50 per month.
Here are all the price details for the different satellite internet plan types.
| Monthly fee | Set-up costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink Residential | $75 - $150 | $0 with rental equipment provided |
| Starlink Priority | $84 - $806 | $549 |
| Sky Muster | $49.95 - $59.95 | $0 (with BYO modem) |
| Sky Muster Plus | $59 - $104.95 | $0 (with BYO modem) |
Satellite NBN generally doesn't come with any upfront fees, with NBN supplying and installing necessary equipment, and customers having the option of bringing their own router.
Until more recently Starlink had a $549 set-up cost for the Standard Starlink Kit, which requires self-installation. At the time of writing Starlink is offering the Standard Kit to new customers as a rental, you just need to pay a shipping and handling fee of $19 with taxes.
At the time of writing, you can get the hardware for free when you commit to a Starlink Residential plan for 12 months.
Here's a look at Starlink's plans:
|
Starlink
Starlink Residential 100 Mbps
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Residential 200 Mbps
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Residential Max
$150/mth
Min. cost $150
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Local Priority 50GB
$84/mth
+ $549 Upfront
Min. cost $633
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Local Priority 500GB
$236/mth
+ $549 Upfront
Min. cost $785
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Local Priority 1TB
$426/mth
+ $549 Upfront
Min. cost $975
|
|
Starlink
Starlink Local Priority 2TB
$806/mth
+ $549 Upfront
Min. cost $1,355
|
Here's what Satellite NBN plan prices look like across all four speed tiers. Sky Muster plans are available on NBN 12 and NBN 25 speed tiers, while Sky Muster Plus plans are available on NBN 25 and above. Sky Muster plans have monthly data limits while Sky Muster Plus plans have unlimited data.
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 300GB Standard
$54.95/mth
Min. cost $54.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 155GB Standard
$44.95/mth
Min. cost $44.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 180GB Standard
$49.95/mth
Min. cost $49.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 235GB Standard
$64.95/mth
Min. cost $64.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 260GB Standard
$89.95/mth
Min. cost $89.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Skymesh
Skymesh Ultra 25 Plan
$64.95/mth
Min. cost $64.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster Plus Premium 25
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
IPSTAR
Sky Muster Plus Entry
$60/mth
Min. cost $60
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 155GB Sonic
$49.95/mth
Min. cost $49.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 180GB Sonic
$54.95/mth
Min. cost $54.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 300GB Sonic
$59.95/mth
Min. cost $59.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 235GB Sonic
$69.95/mth
Min. cost $69.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Pivotel
Sky Muster Plus Premium 25
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster 260GB Sonic
$94.95/mth
Min. cost $94.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Skymesh
Skymesh Ultra 50 Plan
$79.95/mth
Min. cost $79.95
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Editor's Pick
Sky Muster Plus Premium 50
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
IPSTAR
Sky Muster Plus Standard
$80/mth
Min. cost $80
Link not supplied
|
|
Pivotel
Sky Muster Plus Premium 50
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
Link not supplied
|
|
Activ8me
Sky Muster Plus Premium 100
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
|
|
Pivotel
Sky Muster Plus Premium 100
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
Link not supplied
|
|
IPSTAR
Sky Muster Plus Premium
$100/mth
Min. cost $100
Link not supplied
|
|
Skymesh
Skymesh Ultra 100 Plan
$104.95/mth
Min. cost $104.95
Link not supplied
|
Starlink vs. Satellite NBN: Speed
Speed is the area where Starlink really shines; it blows Satellite NBN out of the sky. Sky Muster NBN plans can achieve maximum speeds of 25Mbps down and 5Mbps up, and Sky Muster Plus Premium plans can get a maximum of 100Mbps down and 5Mbps on the top speed tier. This is in optimal conditions.
Meanwhile, Starlink Residential plans offer maximum download speeds of up to 320Mbps and upload speeds of up to 40Mbps.
| Download speeds (Max) | Upload speeds (Max) | Data allowance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Residential | 320Mbps | 40Mbps | Unlimited |
| Starlink Priority | 310Mbps | 44Mbps | Priority data allowance varies (up to 2TB), 1Mbps capped unlimited data |
| Sky Muster | 25Mbps | 5Mbps | Varies (up to 300GB), total data divided into peak and off-peak allowances |
| Sky Muster Plus | 100Mbps | 5Mbps | Unlimited |
Starlink offers unlimited data on its Residential plan, and you'll get unlimited data on all Sky Muster Plus plans. Regular Sky Muster plans do have data allowances and these are divided into peak and off-peak allowances (with off-peak being between 1am and 7am in your local time zone). These are harder to find these days, however.
Satellite internet is notoriously slow, but the ping is literally out of this world. Latency or ping is how long it takes for a web application to respond to a user’s action. The lower the latency, the less lag you’ll experience.
Satellite NBN, which uses a geostationary satellite, has high latency because the data has to travel about 36,000km to reach the satellite. Starlink's latency is comparatively much lower because its satellites are in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These LEO satellites sit much closer to the Earth at an altitude between 550 and 1,200km.
Starlink vs. Satellite NBN: Availability
Starlink is available Australia-wide. That being said, Starlink is recommended for those in rural and regional Australia, rather than those living in major cities, even if you can order it. In fact, in metropolitan areas, you may see a one-off $135 congestion charge at signup.
Satellite NBN is technically also available across Australia. However, Satellite NBN providers won't sell you a plan where a more appropriate connection type is available. You can use our address coverage checker to confirm which types of plans are available at your premises.
Starlink vs. Satellite NBN: Verdict
To make as uniform a comparison as simple as possible, we'll look at the Starlink Residential 100Mbps plan and the NBN 100 option on Satellite NBN.
Starlink comes out on top by a fair bit. You'll pay $900 in plan fees across the year compared to $1,128 across your first year with the cheapest Satellite NBN 100 plan in WhistleOut's database. With better latency, Starlink is the clear winner.
NBN Co's two Sky Muster satellites are due to be decommissioned around 2032. As part of that limitation NBN Co has partnered with Amazon to deliver low-earth orbit satellite plans (like those Starlink offers) to Satellite NBN customers. The transition is expected to commence around mid-2027.
The move will mean lower latency for Satellite NBN customers and the potential for higher-speed plans (faster than 100Mbps) as the service rolls out. At this stage, NBN Co plans to sell 50Mbps and 100Mbps as a starting point. It will make Starlink and Satellite NBN a lot more similar, but pricing remains to be seen.
Is Starlink better than Fixed Wireless NBN?
Starlink and Fixed Wireless NBN might both offer internet solutions for rural and regional Australia, but they're substantially different technologies so it's harder to argue one is outright better than the other.
While Starlink provides internet via LEO satellites, Fixed Wireless NBN uses 4G and 5G technology (the same that powers your mobile phone plan) through dedicated NBN transmission towers, which broadcast to a receiver antenna installed on the roof of your premises.
Starlink vs. Fixed Wireless NBN: Price
Fixed Wireless comes out as the cheaper option in terms of both monthly fees and hardware.
Here's a look at the key pricing information for each.
| Monthly fee | Set-up costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink Residential | From $75 | $0 with rental equipment provided |
| Starlink Priority | From $108 | $549 |
| FW Basic II | From $43.99* | $0 (with BYO modem) |
| FW Plus | From $57.99* | $0 (with BYO modem) |
| FW Home Fast | From $67.90* | $0 (with BYO modem) |
| FW Superfast | From $79.90* | $0 (with BYO modem) |
* Based on the lowest plan Fixed Wireless plan price in WhistleOut's database. May include promotional pricing.
Fixed Wireless plans start as low as $45 per month for the first six months with promotional pricing. After this, the price can jump up to around $65 for an entry-level plan.
If we look at Fixed Wireless Plus, which is available to the greatest number of premises, then it's still much more affordable than Starlink. Fixed Wireless plans start at around $60 with promotional pricing and move to around $80 per month ongoing. This is for speeds up to 100Mbps.
Fixed Wireless Home Fast and Fixed Wireless Superfast plans offer speeds up to 250Mbps and 400Mbps, and even these plans are priced at a maximum of around $100 to $110 at full ongoing prices.
Here's a look at Fixed Wireless NBN plans:
|
Tangerine Telecom
Fixed Wireless Superspeedy
$79.90/mth
Min. cost $79.90
|
|
Activ8me
Fixed Wireless Super Fast
$89.95/mth
Min. cost $89.95
|
|
Superloop
nbn Fixed Wireless Super Fast (400/40)
$93/mth
Min. cost $93
|
|
Skymesh
NBN Wireless Superfast
$94.95/mth
Min. cost $94.95
Link not supplied
|
|
MATE
Fair Dinkum Wireless
$100/mth
Min. cost $100
Link not supplied
|
|
More
Fixed Wireless Superfast NBN
$115/mth
Min. cost $115
Link not supplied
|
|
Telstra
Ultimate Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$119/mth
Min. cost $119
Link not supplied
|
|
Aussie Broadband
nbn® Fixed Wireless Superfast Unlimited
$119/mth
Min. cost $119
Link not supplied
|
|
AGL
Fixed Wireless Superfast
$124/mth
Min. cost $124
Link not supplied
|
Starlink vs. Fixed Wireless: Speed
While Starlink is more competitive on speed against Satellite NBN, the same can't be said for Fixed Wireless. Now, Fixed Wireless NBN is far from perfect; there can still be connection issues, but with the technology located on the ground, Fixed Wireless can deliver faster maximum speeds than what Starlink currently can achieve.
While Starlink's Residential plan can achieve download speeds of up to 320Mbps, the fastest Fixed Wireless plan can achieve speeds of 400Mbps.
Speeds of up to 250Mbps are available to 90% of Fixed Wireless NBN customers, while 80% can get the fastest 400Mbps speeds.
| Download speeds (Max) | Upload speeds (Max) | Data allowance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Residential | 320Mbps | 40Mbps | Unlimited |
| Starlink Priority | 310Mbps | 44Mbps | Priority data allowance varies (up to 2TB), 1Mbps capped unlimited data |
| FW Basic I | 12Mbps | 1Mbps | Unlimited |
| FW Basic II | 25Mbps | 5Mbps |
Unlimited |
| FW Plus | 100Mbps | 20Mbps | Unlimited |
| FW Home Fast | 250Mbps | 20Mbps | Unlimited |
| FW Superfast | 400Mbps | 40Mbps | Unlimited |
Starlink vs. Fixed Wireless NBN: Availability
As we've already mentioned, Starlink is universally available, although it may charge a congestion fee in some areas. Fixed Wireless is only available, however, where you're eligible. You can use our address checker or the address checker of any telco to confirm your availability. If you're on a fixed-line connection, you can't switch to Fixed Wireless, although you could theoretically get a Starlink plan.
Starlink vs. Fixed Wireless NBN: Verdict
For a closer comparison, we'll look at the Starlink Residential 100Mbps plan and the Fixed Wireless Plus tier, which has similar speeds.
Fixed Wireless clearly comes out on top. If you signed up for the cheapest Fixed Wireless Superfast plan in our database, you'd pay $875.88 compared to Starlink's $900. Starlink's only real advantage here is its slightly lower latency.
Is Starlink better than Fixed-line NBN?
Now that we've looked at Starlink compared to Satellite NBN and Fixed Wireless, how does it compare to fixed-line NBN? We'll leave it to WhistleOut's Managing Editor to have the final word.
While Starlink is available Australia-wide, it’s a poor choice as an NBN alternative if you live in a city or metro area. Not only is Starlink more expensive than NBN, it’s less reliable. Latency can be four times as high as what you’d get on a fixed-line NBN connection, and you’ll experience more dropouts.
When I tested Starlink, there were days when I had over 19 outages per hour. These can happen because of obstructions, network issues, or because my dish had trouble connecting to a satellite. While you won’t notice them most of the time, they can be a big issue for video calls, online gaming, or any other real-time application. Micro-outages are still enough to boot you from a Zoom.
Lastly, you need as clear a view of the sky as possible for ideal Starlink performance. Even things like trees in the outback can interrupt Starlink performance, and if you’re living around other houses and apartment blocks, there’s going to be a good chance of more potential obstructions. These will, in turn, reduce your Starlink internet performance and can create even more outages.
If you’re dealing with subpar NBN in a city or metro area, consider 5G internet as an alternative first.
Alex Choros, Managing Editor
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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