Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, is now available in Spain.
In general, cities have several Internet service providers (ISPs), with different forms of connection: fiber optics, ADSL, while in rural areas the possibilities are limited or non-existent .
If you are in a rural area, Starlink can become a good option, although it is not a cheap service .
Starlink works thanks to a constellation of low-orbit satellites. The company currently has about 2000 low-orbit satellites in operation. By the middle of this decade it expects this number to rise to around 12,000 and, by 2027, it estimates it will have a total of 42,000.
Each of these satellites orbits around 550 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, approximately 60 times closer to us than traditional satellites. Some will be even closer, at about 320 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. That distance allows you to have better coverage, speed and latency [the delay in processing network data].
With the current number of satellites, the service promises speeds between 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps and latency as low as 20 ms in most places where there will be coverage, including Spain. Over the next few months as SpaceX launches more satellites into space and the service “drastically improves.”
The list of countries currently serviced by the growing network of low-earth orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand. Starlink’s preorder agreement includes options for requesting service in other countries, including Italy, Poland, Spain and Chile.
The box contains a receiving antenna, the router and all the wiring. From the mobile we can easily install and orient the antenna.
All you need to do to make the connection is set up a small satellite dish at your home to receive the signal and pass the bandwidth on to your router. The company offers several mounting options for rooftops, yards and the exterior of your home. There’s even a Starlink app for Android and iOS that uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers.
Current charges (2021)
€70 monthly cost of the service.
€9 of regulatory costs.
€390 for the components (antenna, router and cables).
Note : we do not stock Starlink equipment. This needs to be ordered directly from Starlink.