KEY POINTS
- Starlink is a widely available satellite internet service operated by SpaceX that offers faster speeds than traditional options, ideal for regional and remote areas of Australia.
- Starlink’s hardware and monthly fees are typically higher than the NBN’s satellite alternatives.
- Alternative services to fixed-line connections include NBN’s Sky Muster, fixed wireless and 5G home internet plans.
Launched in 2021, Starlink has seen a boost in popularity since its launch, with more than five million users across the world as of March 2025.
The service is available Australia-wide, and promises faster speeds than competitor products, but is Starlink right for you? Read on to find out all you need to know about using Starlink in Australia.
On this page:
- What is Starlink?
- Starlink Australia plans: How much does Starlink cost?
- Starlink speeds in Australia
- Starlink Australia coverage
- Pros and cons of Starlink in Australia
- Are there any alternatives to Starlink Australia?
- Starlink vs Sky Muster NBN
- Starlink vs 5G home internet
- Should I sign up to Starlink Australia?
- FAQs
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet product, which is owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Satellite internet isn’t new, and is sometimes thought of as being unreliable or slow.
However, Starlink promises speeds faster than what is currently available with other satellite internet services, along with low latency because of its closer proximity to Earth.
Starlink’s internet services are also available from Telstra and Optus, with Telstra offering a Satellite Home Internet plan for residential customers and Optus currently offering satellite internet for businesses.
How does Starlink work?
Compared to traditional satellites, Starlink uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which means that latency is lower than what you’d get from satellite internet with a higher orbit. These satellites then communicate with your equipment and ground stations to deliver internet to your home.
The equipment you’ll need to access Starlink at your home is sent to you, and you’ll need to set up and install the equipment yourself (or pay someone to install it for you).
For more information on how to install and set up your Starlink connection, visit Starlink’s official setup guide.
In this respect, it’s more of an internet supplier, supplying both the access and technology, so customers are required to do more to set up than they would with an NBN service.
Starlink Australia plans: How much does Starlink cost?
While Starlink might be offering a faster product than what is currently on the market, it does come with rather steep costs, both for the equipment and its Starlink internet plans.
Equipment costs for residential customers
Residential customers will need to pay a mandatory upfront cost for the Starlink Standard Kit or the Starlink Mini Kit, alongside an additional shipping fee.
The prices below break down what you should expect to pay, depending on the plan you sign up for:
Residential Lite plan
- $599 for the Starlink Standard Kit + shipping
Residential plan
- $549 for the Starlink Standard Kit + shipping
Roam plan
- $549 for the Starlink Standard Kit + shipping
- $599 for the Starlink Mini Kit + shipping
These costs are significantly higher than what you will pay for NBN satellite plans (regardless of the hardware costs), but with the advantage of faster speeds and unlimited data.
Previously, Starlink in Australia was $924 for the equipment with a $115 shipping fee, so costs have come down significantly since the early days.
Equipment costs for Business customers
Businesses considering Starlink can sign up for Starlink Business, which will incur much larger upfront costs than the residential version. Starlink Business comes in the following two plans:
Local Priority plan:
- Flat High Performance kit: $2499 + shipping
- Enterprise kit: $1099 + shipping
Global Priority plan:
- Flat High Performance kit: $2499 + shipping
How much do Starlink internet plans cost?
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| Plan name | Customer | Download and upload speeds | Location | Included data per month | Price per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Residential Lite | Residential | Download: 75-240Mbps Upload: 8-30Mbps | Fixed | Unlimited deprioritised data with slower speeds | $89 |
| Starlink Residential | Residential | Download: 25-270Mbps Upload: 10-40Mbps | Fixed | 50GB ($0.60 for every extra GB) | $15 |
| Unlimited | $139 | ||||
| Roam | Residential | Download: 30-100Mbps Upload: 10-30Mbps | Fixed | 5GB | $15 |
| 50GB | $80 | ||||
| Unlimited | $195 | ||||
| Starlink Local Priority | Business | Download: 40-220Mbps Upload: 10-30Mbps | Fixed | 50GB | $108 |
| 500GB | $276 | ||||
| 1TB | $486 | ||||
| 2TB | $906 | ||||
| Starlink Global Priority | Business | Download: 50-220Mbps Upload: 10-30Mbps | In-motion use | 50GB | $450 |
| 500GB | $1,170 | ||||
| 1TB | $2,070 | ||||
| 2TB | $3,870 |
Source: Starlink website, May 2025
Keep in mind that if you’re keen on Starlink but want a cheaper price, Telstra’s Starlink satellite service is priced at $125 per month, plus $549 for the setup kit.
Starlink speeds in Australia
Starlink states that typical download speeds should be somewhere between 25Mbps to 270Mbps and upload speeds around 10Mbps to 40Mbps, depending on the Starlink plan you’re on, the hours you use your internet and the coverage in your immediate area
As for real-world performance, Ookla, the broadband testing and analysis company, has released reports of the average performance of Starlink speeds. Testing done in Q3 and Q4 of 2022, and released in February 2023, saw improvements from the 98.92Mbps average speed in Q3, up to 106.43Mbps on average recorded in Q4.
The Measuring Broadband Australia program run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has also released reports on the performance of satellite services in Australia in March 2025. Starlink recorded peak speeds of approximately 470Mbps for downloads, alongside 183.9Mbps during all hours, dropping to 162.2Mbps during busy periods on the weekdays.
Over the past years, speed test reports from the Measuring Broadband Australia program have seen Starlink speeds in Australia fluctuate modestly. Higher results were recorded in past tests in 2024, with 192 Mbps download speeds during all hours and 165.5Mbps during busy periods being recorded.
Ultimately, the speed range Starlink is predicting is rather wide, and does give some leeway for slower speeds. It’s also a similar speed range to what you can expect with many fixed-line NBN connections.
While you can technically get those super-fast speeds up to 200Mbps, average speeds indicate real-world performance typically sits between 100 to 160Mbps.
What about latency?
Latency, sometimes referred to as lag or ping, is the time that it takes for data to go from one point to another. This means that the lower the latency or ping, the quicker the data gets to you.
This is especially important for online gaming, as a lower ping or latency means less lag between when something happens and you react to it — bad lag can mean the difference between winning or losing.
Starlink states that it offers ‘low-latency broadband internet’, but satellite internet can typically have higher latency for obvious reasons as there is greater distance at play. But how does it stack up in the real world?
The same Ookla tests for download and upload speeds recorded an average latency speed of 63ms (milliseconds) in the Q3 testing and 66ms in the Q4 testing. Compared to all other providers in Australia combined (which would include fixed wired connections), Ookla reported 15ms and 16ms average latency for Q3 and Q4 respectively.
On top of that, the ACCC’s Measuring Broadband Australia program recorded an average ping of 30.9ms during all hours and 31.9ms in busy periods for both upload and download speeds — this is fairly consistent with the results gathered from the December 2024 dataset, with a reported average ping of 29.8ms during all hours and 30.8ms in busy periods.
However, keep in mind that fixed wired connections will typically have a lower latency than satellite services. Compared to the lag you’ll have with other satellite internet, you may experience less lag with Starlink than with comparable internet services.
Starlink Australia coverage
Starlink started in a limited part of the country, but has since expanded to cover virtually all of Australia.
Looking at the coverage map on the Starlink website, there are still small pockets in some areas where Starlink is unavailable or expected to roll out soon. You can check the coverage map below (available coverage is in light blue) and get a closer look on the Starlink website.
Pros and cons of Starlink in Australia
Starlink has received a lot of hype, thanks to its big promises on delivering faster speeds to regional and remote areas, but is it all it’s cracked up to be? Here are the pros and cons of Starlink:
Pros:
- It’s faster than what’s currently available on some other satellite internet services
- It’s available virtually Australia-wide (small pockets of the country might not have access yet)
- Includes unlimited data
Cons:
- Expensive upfront and monthly costs
- You need to install the equipment yourself or hire someone to install (ISPs using NBN satellite will typically organise setup for you)
- Higher latency than what you’ll get with fixed-line internet connections, which can be problematic for online gaming
Are there any alternatives to Starlink Australia?
The biggest competitor to Starlink in Australia is the NBN, but more specifically, the NBN’s satellite service, Sky Muster.
Until Starlink launched in Australia, for many regional and remote Aussies, Sky Muster was their only option to get connected.
NBN Co is seeing Starlink as big competition, as more investment and developments into improving Sky Muster and fixed wireless NBN have been announced in recent years.
Early 2022 saw NBN Co announce additional funding to improve the service, while in February 2023 was the announcement that NBN Co will trial faster speeds and unmetered data for its Sky Muster customers with a new Sky Muster Plus plan. There are also plans to utilise 5G technology to assist with improved internet services in regional NSW.
While NBN satellite services generally aren’t quite up to speed yet with Starlink, another alternative with the capacity to reach similar speeds is 5G home internet.
With 5G network coverage continuing to roll out Australia-wide, more Aussies now have access to this fast home wireless service.
However, as 5G home internet relies on having 5G network coverage at your home, access may still be limited, especially in regional and remote areas. People in metropolitan areas who have been considering Starlink may find 5G home internet a more suitable and affordable option, provided you have good 5G network coverage.
Starlink vs Sky Muster NBN
Both Starlink and Sky Muster NBN have their pros and cons:
| Starlink | Sky Muster | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
Here are several Sky Muster NBN plans currently available on the market.
The following table shows selected published NBN satellite plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see fixed-line plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $59.00 over one month |
Unlimited | $59.00 | Go To Site |
 |
Sky Muster Ultra25
min. cost $64.95 for first month |
Unlimited | $64.95 | |
 |
Satellite Medium
min. cost $70 for one month billing period |
Unlimited | $70 | |
|
min. cost $74.00 over one month |
Unlimited | $74.00 | Go To Site |
|
Sky Muster Ultra50
min. cost $84.95 for first month |
Unlimited | $84.95 | |
|
min. cost $99.00 over one month |
Unlimited | $99.00 | Go To Site |
 View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Starlink vs 5G home internet
While 5G home internet isn’t as widely available as Starlink is, it’s still a good fast-internet alternative to fixed wireless internet — if you have the connection. These plans are also cheaper than Starlink and are much easier to setup, with only a modem required (usually supplied by the provider).
Here are a range of 5G home internet plans currently on the market.
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Internet
min. cost $85 over one month |
1TB | $85 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G
min. cost $675 over first month |
Unlimited | $99 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Broadband Plus plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
5G Home Internet Plus
min. cost $65 over one month |
Unlimited | $65 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium
min. cost $49.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $49.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Broadband Premium plan
min. cost $54.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $54.99 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
5G Home Internet Premium
min. cost $70 over one month |
Unlimited | $70 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G
min. cost $655 over first month |
Unlimited | $79 | Link to provider unavailable |
 |
SpinTel 5G Unlimited
min. cost $89 over one month |
Unlimited | $89 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Should I sign up to Starlink Australia?
Starlink certainly talks a big game with its promises of fast satellite internet, and it’s definitely an exciting prospect for many people looking for answers to their technology frustrations.
It’s certainly not a perfect service — and it’s not cheap — but for people living in regional and remote parts of the country, it could be the answer to their internet woes. NBN Co may be lagging behind with its satellite internet services, but it seems that competition from Starlink may have given NBN Co enough of a scare to improve its services.
Starlink is also currently trialing a Direct to Cell (DTC) service with Telstra, allowing for satellite-to-mobile messaging in remote areas with no mobile network access. Telstra has also expressed its interest in rolling out data and phone call functions via DTC in the future.
Optus is also collaborating with Starlink to roll out a similar service with text, message and data coverage. However, both services are still being tested in a controlled environment.
Ultimately, if you are living in an area that relies on satellite internet or where a reliable wired connection isn’t available, Starlink could be a good option for your home internet. However, it does carry an expensive upfront and ongoing monthly cost, not to mention that you need to install the equipment yourself, which could be difficult for some customers.
It’s worth comparing Starlink internet, the costs involved and other alternatives that are perhaps available to you (such as Sky Muster NBN and 5G home internet) to see which service will ultimately work best for you.
FAQs about Starlink Australia
Starlink Business is a Starlink service and plan suited to businesses. It’s more expensive than what residential customers will pay, but you also get a higher-gain antenna and better performance in extreme weather. It’s a good option for businesses looking for fast satellite internet in more regional and remote parts of the country.
Roam is a portable form of Starlink that can be installed in your RV, brought out for camping and boating to give you access to satellite internet as you travel.
You’ll pay $549 or $599 upfront (excluding shipping costs) for the Starlink Standard Kit or the Starlink Mini Kit, and the following monthly charges, depending on your preferred data allowance for ongoing access:
- 5GB data for $15 per month
- 50GB data for $80 per month
- Unlimited data for $195 per month
Roam can be used as an alternative to mobile broadband products, which is the most common form of portable internet for anyone travelling around. However, it relies on a mobile network connection, which could be patchy in some areas.
Roam may have wider access than what you can get with mobile broadband.
You’re free to cancel your Starlink service at any time via the Starlink Customer portal. If you wish to return your equipment kit, you’re able to return the undamaged Starlink Kit within 30 days of receipt for any reason and receive a full refund.
To cancel your service, log into your personal account on the Starlink website, navigate to your subscription, and click the ‘Cancel Service’ prompt.
If you cancel after this 30-day period, you won’t receive a refund on your kit.
If you move address but want to take your Starlink service to your new home, you may be able to transfer your service if Starlink is available.
To change your service address, you just need to log in to your Starlink account and find your service address, update the address and save your changes.
If you experience slower speeds during peak evening hours (between 6pm and 11pm), it’s possible that network congestion could be slowing your Starlink service. Issues with speed outside of these hours could be to do with your setup.
Check the Starlink app to see if there are any outages or hardware issues, and confirm nothing is blocking the Starlink signal. You can also try unplugging the Starlink router and then plugging it back in.
It’s also important to check the speeds on other devices, as it may be your device and not your Starlink connection that is slow.
Starlink claims that its fast speeds can handle video streaming, where traditional satellite internet services may have been unable to deliver access to high-definition video streams.
Starlink claims that online gaming is possible with Starlink’s faster and low-latency connection. However, it’s important to keep in mind that satellite internet, even Starlink, may have higher latency than other internet connections, such as fixed wired connections.
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