Living in an area without access to fibre doesn’t mean you have to miss out on fast, reliable internet.
Between the recently upgraded nbn® Fixed Wireless network (now allowing for speeds up to 400Mbps) and SpaceX’s Starlink – you’ve got a couple of solid options to choose from.
While both services offer high-speed internet without the need for typical fibre infrastructure, there are a few key differences between the two services that you might want to be aware of. This blog will help you compare both options and potentially save you hundreds of dollars in the process!
A quick overview
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick rundown of both services:
- nbn® Fixed Wireless uses dedicated 4G/5G technology to transmit data over radio signals from a nearby transmission tower to an outdoor antenna on your premises.
- Starlink uses a network of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver internet across the globe. Once you set up your Starlink Kit and point it towards the sky you can connect to the internet from practically anywhere.
Let’s look at a comparison between the two 👇
1. Cost
nbn® Fixed Wireless
- Upfront costs: No upfront costs, with free standard installations (non-standard installations might incur additional fees).
- Monthly costs: Typically ranges between $70 and $100 depending on your plan and provider.
Starlink
- Upfront costs: $549 for the Starlink Kit.
- Monthly costs: A flat monthly fee of $139.
2. Speed
nbn® Fixed Wireless
- Speeds: With recent upgrades, nbn® Fixed Wireless now offers speeds up to 400/40Mbps.
Starlink
- Speeds: Starlink reports speeds of up to 270/40Mbps.
For both services, speeds will depend on the amount of congestion on the network, and you can expect to see lower speeds during peak traffic.
3. Latency
Latency is the measure of the time it takes for a packet of data to go from one point to its destination and is measured in milliseconds.
nbn® Fixed wireless
- Average latency: Around 43.1ms overall, and 44.1ms during busy hours (according to ACCC data).
Starlink
- Average latency: Starlink reports a latency range of 25ms to 60ms.
4. Availability
nbn® Fixed Wireless
- Coverage: You will need to be within a 29km range from a nbn® Fixed Wireless transmission tower. Currently, the nbn® Fixed wireless network is available to over 700,000 premises throughout Australia.
You can check if your address is eligible here.
Starlink
- Coverage: Because of the use of satellites, Starlink is available Australia-wide. Though certain parts of Australia may experience poor performance depending on the network’s capacity in the area.
5. Installation process
nbn® Fixed Wireless
- Installation: Setup is handled by nbn® themselves, who will send a technician to install all the necessary hardware on your premises for you.
Starlink
- Installation: Starlink does not offer installation services, so you’ll have to either install it yourself or get a third-party installer to help you.
6. Customer support
nbn® Fixed Wireless
- Support: Customer support will be through your chosen internet service provider. With Leaptel, you’ll get access to a 100% local team of experts ready to help you, should you ever need us.
Starlink
- Support: Starlink currently requires all support requests to be submitted online, and support is managed by their contact centres outside Australia.
Final thoughts
Although nbn® Fixed Wireless has had a bad rap in the past, recent upgrades to the network make it a much more reliable, and faster service. With free standard installations, cheaper monthly plans, and new high-speed offerings, Fixed Wireless is an excellent first choice. Of course, if you are outside of the nbn® Fixed Wireless network’s coverage, Starlink is still a solid option – albeit at a higher cost.
Ready for nbn® Fixed wireless?
Simply click the button below to check if you have access to nbn® Fixed Wireless network and make the switch to lightning-fast, rock-solid reliable internet today!