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Starlink is a satellite internet service run by SpaceX, using thousands of satellites in low orbit around the earth. It is sold across Australia, subject to availability at your address, direct from Starlink on month-to-month plans with no lock-in contract and also through Telstra. Because its satellites are much closer than nbn's Sky Muster satellites, it has far lower delay, and the ACCC's testing found it faster than Sky Muster too.
In Australia Starlink sells three Residential plans (100 Mbps, 200 Mbps and Max) and Roam plans for travel. You install the dish yourself, and you need a clear view of the sky. This page explains the plans, what speeds Starlink and the ACCC report, how availability works, the regulatory position, and when Starlink makes more sense than NBN Fixed Wireless, Sky Muster, 5G or a fixed line. We don't quote prices; Starlink publishes current pricing for your address on its own site.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Starlink's satellites are in low orbit, far closer to earth than a geostationary satellite like Sky Muster, which sits about 36,000 km up. The dish on your property talks to whichever satellites are overhead, and they relay traffic to ground stations connected to the internet. The short distance is what gives Starlink its low latency, typically 25 to 60 milliseconds according to its Australian Critical Information Summaries.
The kit includes the dish (Starlink's current Australian spec is the Standard kit with a built-in router, Router 3, and a 15 m cable). Starlink describes set-up as plug and play and the Residential service as user installed; the Residential Max plan includes professional installation. The Starlink Mini is a smaller, portable kit with a built-in router, offered with Roam plans and as an optional extra kit on Residential Max.
Starlink's Australian plans page lists these plans as at 28 September 2026. All have unlimited data except Roam 100GB, and the Residential plans have a one-month minimum term with no early termination fee.
| Plan | What sets it apart | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential – 100 Mbps | Download capped at 100 Mbps; available in select areas | 80–100 Mbps | 20–40 Mbps | 25–60 ms |
| Residential – 200 Mbps | Download capped at 200 Mbps; available in select areas | 80–200 Mbps | 20–40 Mbps | 25–60 ms |
| Residential – Max | Maximum available speeds and top Residential network priority; professional install included | 150–350 Mbps | 20–40 Mbps | 25–60 ms |
| Roam – 100GB / Roam – Unlimited | For travel and portable use; in-motion use supported in selected areas. 100GB plan drops to low-speed data after 100 GB | 65–260 Mbps | 20–40 Mbps | 25–60 ms |
Starlink publishes its current monthly prices and hardware options on its Australian website, and they can differ by plan and location. We don't quote them because they change. When you compare, add up three things: the monthly plan price, the kit (bought outright or on the hardware option Starlink offers at the time), and any installation or mounting costs.
Two costs are easy to miss. Starlink's CIS says a demand surcharge may apply if your location is near capacity, and the cheaper 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans are only available in select areas. Check both for your address before you order. Starlink also offers a 30-day trial: if you're not satisfied within 30 days you can get a refund, subject to its conditions.
The ACCC tested Starlink in its Measuring Broadband Australia program before the program ended in June 2026. Its first satellite report, in December 2024, found Starlink services averaged 192 Mbps download across all hours and 165.5 Mbps in the 7pm to 11pm busy period, with average latency of 29.8 ms, and that Starlink outperformed Sky Muster on both speed and latency. A June 2025 report measured an average busy-hour download speed of 170.2 Mbps.
Starlink itself stresses that speeds are maximums, are not guaranteed and will be slower during congestion. Its availability map lets you view expected download speeds and latency for your area, and the CIS says it expects availability of 99% or better.
Starlink's map at starlink.com/au/map shows whether service is available or coming soon at your address. Service is widely available across Australia, but capacity is managed by area: the cheaper Residential plans are only sold in select areas, and a demand surcharge may apply where the network is near capacity. You also need a spot on your property with a clear view of the sky; the Starlink app has a Check for Obstructions tool to find one before you mount the dish.
Starlink competes most directly with nbn's Sky Muster satellite and Fixed Wireless. In towns and cities, a fixed-line NBN connection is usually the better buy.
| Starlink (Residential) | nbn Sky Muster Plus Premium | nbn Fixed Wireless | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Low-earth-orbit satellites | Two geostationary satellites | 4G/5G radio link from an nbn tower |
| Stated or measured speed | Plans from 80–100 to 150–350 Mbps (Starlink); ACCC measured 170.2 Mbps average in busy hours (March 2025 data) | Tiers of 25/5, 50/5 and 100/5; typical busy-period 21, 38 and 63 Mbps | Up to 400 Mbps on Superfast where eligible; ACCC measured Home Fast at 160.5 Mbps in busy hours |
| Latency | 25–60 ms (Starlink CIS) | Much higher: nbn describes a 72,000 km round trip | Much lower than geostationary satellite (a short radio link to a tower) |
| Data | Unlimited on Residential plans | Uncapped | Set by the provider's plan |
| Equipment | You buy or rent the kit and self-install (pro install on Max) | nbn dish and modem installed by nbn | nbn antenna and box installed by nbn |
| Who sells it | Starlink direct, Telstra | NBN satellite providers | NBN Fixed Wireless providers |
| Contract | Residential: one-month minimum, no early termination fee | Set by provider | Set by provider |
Telstra sells Satellite Home Internet powered by Starlink. It is restricted to the home address it is connected to and includes a home phone line; you can install it yourself or pay for Telstra's professional installation. Telstra's page says download speeds are capped at most times and lists its typical 7pm to 11pm speeds, which it says change from 29 September 2026, so check the current figures.
The trade-off is convenience against flexibility: Telstra bundles billing, support and a phone line, while buying direct from Starlink gives you its full plan range, including Roam. Starlink also lists other authorised resellers, mainly for business customers. Retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman sell Starlink kits, but you still take the service plan from Starlink.
Starlink says moderate to heavy rain, snow and hail can cause momentary service dropouts, and that storms near its ground stations can also affect service. Telstra says extreme weather, especially heavy rain, can cause brief dropouts on its Starlink service.
Obstructions are the more common problem. Trees, roofs and new growth can block the dish's view of the sky; Starlink recommends using the app's obstruction check and relocating the dish if needed. Its CIS lists the angle and field of view of the dish, weather and the number of other Starlink kits nearby among the factors affecting performance.
Starlink Australia Pty Ltd holds an Australian carrier licence, current since 7 August 2020, and the retail service is supplied by Starlink Internet Services Pte. Ltd. The ACMA's published actions against the retail company include a direction to comply with the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code in 2023 over advertising a limited-time offer without an end date, and and a formal warning in May 2025 for failing to comply with complaint record-keeping rules.
In the ACMA's complaint-handling data for January to March 2026, Starlink was one of the two providers with the fewest complaints per 10,000 services. If a complaint to Starlink isn't resolved, its CIS directs customers to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
Starlink is often the fastest option for homes that can only get Sky Muster, and it is worth comparing with Fixed Wireless where both are available. It also suits caravanners, campers and remote workers through the Roam plans and Starlink Mini.
In areas with FTTP, HFC, FTTC or a decent FTTN line, a fixed-line NBN plan usually offers steadier performance without buying a dish. If you are unsure, use the 30-day trial and the month-to-month terms to test it, and read our guides to Sky Muster, Fixed Wireless and 5G home internet.
Starlink sets its Australian prices on its own website, and they depend on the plan (Residential 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, Max or Roam) and can include a demand surcharge in busy areas. We don't quote prices because they change. Add the kit and any installation to the monthly price when you compare.
You need a clear view of the sky, heavy rain and storms can cause brief dropouts, you pay for the kit, the cheaper plans are only sold in some areas, and speeds are not guaranteed and slow during congestion. Starlink's latency is low for satellite but still higher than fibre.
Telstra sells a Starlink-powered home internet service, so it is partly the same network. Buying direct from Starlink gives you its full plan range with no lock-in; Telstra's version adds a home phone line and Telstra support but is tied to one address and has capped download speeds at most times. Compare the speeds and terms each publishes.
It depends on the plans you compare. Starlink's cost includes the kit as well as the monthly plan, while a fixed-line NBN plan needs only a modem. Against Sky Muster in remote areas, Starlink offers more speed and lower latency. Compare the current prices on Starlink's site with NBN providers' prices for your address, over the time you expect to stay.
On performance, the ACCC found Starlink delivered higher speeds and lower latency than Sky Muster in its December 2024 satellite report. Sky Muster Plus Premium now has uncapped data and nbn plans a low-orbit replacement from around mid-2027. See NBN Sky Muster.
We have no commercial arrangement with Starlink or Telstra. Plan names, speeds and terms on this page come from Starlink's and Telstra's own Australian pages and the regulators, checked on the review date shown.
