Is Starlink Available In Your Area?


Andreas Rivera
Sep 25, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

Starlink satellite internet has disrupted the industry by delivering high-speed, low-latency internet that is accessible nearly anywhere—without wires or other physical infrastructure. It mainly sets itself apart by being easy to set up and start, with no long-term contracts hanging over your head. 

Starlink and the other two major satellite internet providers, Hughesnet and Viasat, have nearly nationwide coverage. The real question is, “How well will it work in your location?”

We’ll explore Starlink’s U.S. and international coverage and availability, including the company’s plans to expand coverage.

Starlink

Starlink plans and pricing

Plan
Price*
Speed
Latency
Recommended Equipment fee
Starlink Residential$120.00/mo.*30—150Mbps30—40ms$349.00
Starlink Priority$140.00–$500.00/mo.50—220Mbps30—40ms$349.00
Starlink Roam$50.00–$165.00/mo.30—100Mbps<99ms$349.00–$599.00
Starlink Mobile Priority$250.00–$5,000.00/mo.40—220Mbps<99ms$2,500.00
* Plus hardware, shipping & handling fees, and tax. Fully refundable. Depending on location, some orders may take 2 weeks or more to fulfill.

Starlink coverage and availability map

Starlink is available across the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico

North America, Australia, and Europe have nearly full access to Starlink, with most of South America also receiving access. It's slowly becoming more accessible throughout parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Starlink can only be sold and activated in countries that have approved its use.

Not all locations are equal regarding the quality of download speeds and latency. As you can see from the coverage map below, higher speeds are obtainable in the western U.S. as opposed to the east. Check Starlink’s interactable coverage map to see how fast the speeds are in your hometown and if they’re enough for your needs.

Because Starlink is continually building its network, its speed and availability map constantly change.

Starlink coverage map

Image of world map with Starlink availability

Image courtesy Starlink.com

How to get Starlink

When Starlink first launched, early adaptors had to sign up for a waitlist to get a kit. Now that SpaceX has launched enough low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and built enough ground terminals, just about anyone can get a Starlink kit.

Starlink kits were originally only available for purchase from SpaceX directly on the website. However, kits can now be purchased either online or in-store, if available, from select retailers. You can potentially drive to your local store (including Best Buy, Home Deport, or Target) and simply pick a kit up instead of waiting for one to be shipped to you. Plus, different retailers offer different perks, like membership programs, credit card rewards, and different return policies.

How much is Starlink internet?
Check Mark

Starlink internet plans are not the cheapest on the market. Prices range from $120–$5000/mo. You can learn all about Starlink costs, features, and speeds in our full Starlink satellite internet review.

Starlink on the move

Starlink Roam is the service’s answer for people on the move, like in an RV or a truck. This version of the service is a bit more expensive, especially if you opt for high-performance equipment or the Starlink Mini, which is even more portable than the standard dish.

The speeds you receive while using Starlink Roam will entirely depend on where you are, and no speeds are ever guaranteed. If you’re not getting adequate performance, then the only thing you can do sometimes is move to a different location.

Starlink priority plans

The speed of your Starlink internet service will also depend on whether you’re using a plan that includes Priority Data. Since you’re connecting to identical satellites as thousands of Starlink customers, only so much bandwidth can be shared. If you select a plan that includes priority data, you’ll be given priority, which ensures you get the fastest speeds available.

How does Starlink compare to other kinds of internet?
Info

We understand if you’re still on the fence about ordering Starlink service. There are plenty of other great options out there. You can read our in-depth reviews of how Starlink stacks up against fiber internet providers, 5G internet providers, and even other satellite providers, like OneWeb, Viasat, and Hughesnet.

Comparing Starlink to other satellite providers

As we just mentioned, Starlink offers faster speeds and lower latency than most other satellite providers, but it can get sluggish if you're in an area with lots of fellow customers. So we thought we’d show you a side-by-side comparison with other satellite internet providers so you can compare all of their features, including things like price and data caps.

Provider
Price
Priority data
Download speeds
Get it
$74.99–$119.99/mo.100—200GB/mo.50–100Mbps
$119.99/mo.UnlimitedUp to 150 Mbps
$120.00–$500.00/mo.Unlimited standard data–2TB priority data20–220Mbps
Prices, speeds and availability vary by location. Prices are subject to change. No annual contract or installation fees are required. Monthly equipment lease fees and taxes may apply.

*As of 02/01/2024. Promotional pricing for the first 12 months. 24-month commitment required.

Enter your zip code to find all the best internet providers available in your area.

Starlink’s future availability

Starlink’s specific expansion plans are not totally set in stone. However, the company clearly has a focus on the African continent, now that it has expanded its operations to everyone in North America and much of Europe. We expect several more countries there to have access to Starlink in the coming months.

Starlink’s coverage map also shows that service will begin in 2024 in several countries, including huge markets like Pakistan, India, and South Africa.

If you’re waiting for Starlink to come to your part of the globe, the best thing to do is search for your address on the company’s website and sign up for the waitlist. It requires a small deposit, which will put you in line to receive your dish. 

How does satellite availability work?

Instead of traditional land-based infrastructure like cables or phone lines, satellite internet relies on a network of advanced satellites in space. It’s like having a personal communication link to the digital world, delivered from the skies. These satellites orbit the Earth, beaming internet signals to and from your home through a tiny dish receiver, similar to a satellite TV dish.

You don’t need to worry about the complex cables or wires you might associate with other types of internet. And unlike 4G or 5G internet (like that offered by T-Mobile), you don’t even need to be close to a cell phone tower. All you need is a clear view of the sky to communicate with the satellites.

The simplicity of satellite internet makes it an excellent choice in remote or rural areas, where other options might be limited. It’s also an excellent option for those who are constantly on the go, like those who live in RVs or boats, since you can bring your service.

While satellite internet has many benefits, it can be susceptible to interruptions from the weather and other obstructions, such as trees. Even when it’s working at full capacity, satellite internet is not nearly as fast as some other options, like fiber internet.

LEO vs. GEO satellites: satellite availability and speed

Not all satellite internet providers use the same kind of satellites. Providers use two main types of satellites: Low-Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO).

LEO satellites orbit the Earth at altitudes typically about 100 to 1,300 miles above the surface. These satellites are relatively close to the Earth, resulting in low-latency communication (good for online gaming and other high-demand online activities).

Starlink’s SpaceX satellites are LEO satellites, which is one of the reasons that the service has such high speeds and low latency. According to SatelliteInternet.com’s proprietary data gathered from almost a million different speed tests nationwide, Starlink’s average national speed is 48Mbps, and its average latency is just 47 ms.

Compared to the average latency for satellite internet (594–624 ms), that’s a significant improvement. Other providers, like Viasat and Hughesnet, use GEO satellites.

GEO satellites are positioned at a fixed point in the sky, approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth’s equator. These satellites move at the same rotational speed as the Earth, so they appear stationary when you look up at them. This characteristic makes them ideal for services that require constant coverage of a specific geographic area, such as television broadcasting and weather monitoring. The drawback is due to the distance from Earth, the latency is much higher.

While Starlink is currently the provider with the largest fleet of LEO satellites, Hughesnet is working on fusing LEO and GEO satellites into a single system. It turns out that Viasat is as well. Hopefully, this means satellite internet will be faster and more responsive in the coming years for all customers.

Andreas Rivera
Written by
Andreas Rivera is a lifelong writer with a decade-spanning career in journalism and marketing. He comes to SatelliteInternet.com with several years of experience writing about business and technology. His passion for researching the latest advancements in tech, especially the now essential need for reliable internet access, fuels his goal of educating others about how these innovations affect and improve our everyday lives. When not researching and writing about SatelliteInternet.com, you’ll likely find him buried in a good book or enjoying the great outdoors with a fishing rod.