Starlink satellite broadband is ready but will you have to wait for a connection?

In good news for those interested in Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband, the service has completed its beta testing stage and is now fully operational. 

For those yet to sign up however, Starlink is now seeing extended wait times for new users, who may have to wait until 2023 to get connected.

What’s Starlink broadband all about?

Despite passing 100,000 worldwide users in August of this year, with more than 400 of those in Australia, Starlink has been operating in a beta stage as it approached full capacity. That means it was first being developed and tested. 

Now that it’s up and running, you might be wondering what’s actually involved. Starlink differentiates itself from the competition by utilising satellites located much closer to Earth than those traditionally used, and thus offers low-latency and fast internet speeds. While the beta stage was advertised as delivering speeds between 50-150mbps, Starlink is now advertising that most users will see speeds between 100-200mbps on the service. Musk previously claimed speeds would jump above 300mbps later this year. 

Although an exit from its beta stage should mean more customers will be able to access the service with greater broadband capabilities, Starlink is now warning new users of long wait times when ordering the product as the company continues to expand.

How do I get Starlink for my home?

Those interested in the service can input their address at the Starlink website to receive an estimate of when the company will expand to their area, but there are wide reports of many locations both internationally and in Australia seeing estimates of late 2022 or early 2023.

While some users may be happy to wait, a number of competing satellite broadband services are available throughout Australia that could get users connected instantly. Despite expanding to more areas, Starlink still focuses heavily on providing broadband to rural and remote communities, who may wish to get connected faster than Starlink can manage.

Looking for a new internet plan? Head to our broadband hub to find and compare providers in your area, or check out some popular satellite plans below.