Back to blog categoriesStarlink Satellite Broadband Review
Aug 18, 2023
Broadband
Source: DepositPhotos
Starlink Satellite internet is one of SpaceX's latest creations. Its goal is to provide affordable, reliable, and fast internet worldwide.
Starlink is now available in much of North and South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. You can get Starlink for your home or RV today in most parts of New Zealand. But the question is, should you?
Read our full Starlink in NZ review below to learn whether you should replace your current internet plan with this futuristic technology.
Starlink Broadband in NZ: Is It Any Good?
New Zealand Starlink is now one of the fastest and most reliable ways to connect to the internet. Although it's not as fast as fibre, it's much faster than traditional copper cables, with excellent coverage across the country.
Starlink Mobile is especially popular among RV owners and people in rural areas across New Zealand, as it provides a high-speed, low-latency internet connection. Compared to using a mobile data plan, a local WiFi router, or other satellite internet services, Starlink is far more reliable.
However, some areas can experience disruptions, and heavy storm clouds can cause outages. And while the latency is decent, it doesn't come close to an optical fibre connection.
How Does Starlink Work?
Source: DepositPhotos
Starlink uses a constellation of low earth orbit satellites to provide internet access. A satellite sends and receives transmissions from ground stations or other satellites and user terminals using radio signals.
Compared to other ISPs that use geostationary satellites, Starlink's satellites are significantly closer to Earth, which is why the connection is faster and more reliable. This comes at the cost of needing more satellites for optimal coverage.
If you'd like to watch an in-depth explanation, check out this video.
Pros
- Quick and simple installation process
- Low latency (25-100 ms vs. competitors' ~600 ms)
- Download speeds of up to 220 Mbps
- Upload speeds of up to 25 Mbps
- Unlimited data plans are available
- Gaming-ready
Cons
- Expensive compared to wired internet plans
- Environmental concerns caused by satellite congestion
- Latency and speed aren't as good as optical fibre
- Outages are common
- Poor customer support
Pricing
- NZ$159/month for residential customers
- NZ$729 for the satellite dish and mounting tripod
- NZ$105 for a short wall mount
- NZ$65 for an Ethernet adaptor
- ~NZ$34 for shipping; varies by location
Check out our complete Starlink NZ Plan Guide here.
Speed and Latency
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Starlink advertises the following download speeds:
- Standard: 25-100 Mbps
- Priority: 40-220 Mbps
- Mobile: 5-50 Mbps
- Mobile priority: 40-220 Mbps
According to their documentation, most users see download speeds of over 100 Mbps, though it varies greatly based on location and weather.
Upload speeds are significantly slower and sit between 2-25 Mbps.
The latency is typically around 30-60 ms, but it can reach 100 ms or more in remote areas with poor coverage.
In comparison, an average New Zealand broadband connection sees download speeds of 155 Mbps and upload speeds of 93 Mbps with a latency of 7 ms. Mobile speeds are slightly slower at 66 Mbps download, and 11 Mbps upload with a latency of 30 ms.
This means a wired connection still provides superior data speeds. But if we compare Starlink to other satellite plans, it has much faster average speeds.
To find the best broadband provider for your needs, check out our comprehensive Broadband Providers List.
Coverage
Source: DepositPhotos
Initially launched only on the South Island, Starlink is now available across most of New Zealand. The quickest way to check whether Starlink is available in your area is to use their availability map.
There are also a few ground stations in places like Puwera, Te Hana, and Cromwell. Close proximity to ground stations generally means a fast and stable internet connection.
This excellent coverage makes Starlink one of the best ways to stay connected in an RV.
As for satellites, SpaceX is consistently launching new satellites into orbit. There are about 4,500 active satellites, with plans to have 12,000 and eventually up to 42,000 orbiting the Earth.
More satellites mean faster internet with lower latency, making it a promising technology if you choose to stick with it.
If you're not happy with Starlink's coverage, check out our Broadband Comparison Guide to find the best ISP for your needs.
Customer Support
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Starlink users have complained on Trustpilot about Starlink's support team, claiming they have opened tickets through the Starlink app numerous times with no response. Other times, it can take weeks to get an answer.
And since users typically don't have internet access during the waiting period, the experience is frustrating.
If you do get a response, there's a good chance that you'll have to wait for new hardware, which may not solve your issue. And for an internet service that you're paying NZ$159 per month, it's not acceptable.
All in all, if you run into an issue while setting up and using your Starlink kit, there's a good chance you'll have to figure it out yourself.
FAQs
Is Starlink in New Zealand Good for Online Gaming?
Starlink is an excellent alternative to a wired connection for New Zealand's gamers. It's the only satellite internet option worth considering to play online games that require low latency and stable internet. You can expect a ping of around 40-60 ms to most Australian and New Zealand servers.
The downside is that you may experience short and frequent outages that last only a few seconds but are enough to get you disconnected.
Does Starlink in New Zealand Have Unlimited Data?
Starlink in New Zealand currently offers unlimited data across all standard plans. There are priority data connections for priority service and mobility service plans, which provide faster download and upload speeds but are capped at 1-6 TB, depending on the plan.
Is Starlink in New Zealand Good for Remote Work?
Starlink is good enough to do work remotely. It's faster and has lower latency than mobile data plans. However, you may experience occasional micro stutters and short outages that can disrupt your workflow or video calls. Still, it's a decent choice if you can't get a wired internet connection installed.
Final Verdict
Starlink's advanced broadband internet system is an excellent choice for Kiwis who own RVs or live in rural NZ. Starlink's rural broadband is significantly faster than competing broadband satellite internet services.
That said, Starlink has poor customer support, and you'll still experience frequent outages compared to a wired internet connection.
All in all, it's a unique option that people who can't get fibre internet swear by.
