Starlink's price drop positions it as a viable option against ADSL

Starlink, SpaceX’s high-speed satellite Internet project, is shaking up the market. With a recent price drop, both for the equipment and for the monthly subscription, Starlink is now a serious alternative to ADSL, even for those who do not live in a white zone.

When we talk about Internet by satellite, the first image that comes to mind is that of a last resort solution for white areas, where ADSL is no longer sufficient or non-existent. However, this sector is undergoing a major revolution thanks to Starlink, the high-speed satellite Internet project carried by SpaceX, the aerospace company of Elon Musk.

Usually, Internet by satellite suffers from several constraints that make it less attractive: high costs, limitations in terms of speeds or even, for certain offers, a fair use which limits the amount of consumable data during peak hours. Not to mention equipment that is often expensive to acquire. However, Starlink is in the process of overturning these codes and providing innovative solutions.

A unique satellite internet offer

The first major difference between Starlink and traditional offers is the position of its satellites. Indeed, instead of using geostationary satellites located about 35,700 km from Earth, Starlink uses what is called low Earth orbit (LEO), which is significantly closer to our planet. This significantly reduces latency times and provides better connection quality. Elon Musk therefore took the bold gamble of launching thousands of these satellites to form a global network.

This proximity to the Earth also makes it possible to offer speeds much higher than those of traditional offers. Indeed, with Starlink, users can expect 50 to 500 Mbit/s downstream speed and 20 to 40 ms latency, with no data consumption limitation. This performance may vary depending on the environment and the number of satellites deployed.

But where Starlink is strong is in terms of the accessibility of its offer. Not only is the necessary equipment offered on sale at 200 euros at Fnac and Darty, but the company has just reduced the cost of its monthly subscription from 50 to 40 euros. If this remains slightly higher than the entry-level offers of ADSL or fiber, it becomes quite competitive for those whose current ADSL connection does not meet their needs. The offer was initially offered at 100 euros per month, then 50 euros per month.

Thus, Starlink appears more and more as a credible alternative to ADSL. It is no longer just a solution for underserved areas, but an attractive option for those who require higher throughput.

This is only the beginning of the adventure for Starlink. The company plans to continue deploying new satellites and increasing the density of its network. This should improve performance even further and potentially keep prices down. But even at 40 euros per month, Starlink has already achieved a real tour de force.