Starlink vs. Fiber Internet

How does satellite internet such as Starlink compare to fiber internet? Both are gaining popularity as groundbreaking internet networks, but they are fundamentally different in how they’re built and how they work.

So which one offers you a faster and more reliable internet connection?

·     Fiber has a much faster maximum and median speed than Starlink or any other satellite provider.

·     Fiber has significantly less latency.

·     Fiber offers a stable connection that is unmatched.

·     We still haven’t scratched the surface of fiber-optic internet’s potential.

How does Satellite Internet work?

Satellite internet uses a network of satellites to relay signals from space connecting you to the web. When you’re set up, a receiver dish is installed at your home that communicates with a network of satellites that orbit the earth.

Satellite internet is incredibly versatile and is used to access the internet in some of the most remote locations on earth. However, since the signal must travel such a great distance, slower speeds and higher latency can be expected.

How Fast Is Satellite Internet?

Satellite internet can vary between 18-97 Mbps. According to Ookla, Starlink currently outpaces other satellite plans when it comes to speed.

Satellite Speeds vs Fiber Internet

Download

ViaSat: 19.73 Mbps

HughesNet: 18.13 Mbps

Starlink: 97.23 Mbps

Tachus Fiber: 1,000 Mbps

Upload

Starlink: 13.89 Mbps

ViaSat: 3.38 Mbps

HughesNet: 2.43 Mbps

Tachus Fiber: 1,000 Mbps

Latency

Starlink: 45 ms

ViaSat:630 ms

HughesNet:724 ms

Tachus Fiber: 7 ms

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While satellite internet can provide decent speeds and latency depending on the provider, the overall reliability of the connection is nowhere near what fiber can achieve.

High latency and signal interruptions can occur frequently because of the distance the signal must travel. With fiber internet, blazing-fast speeds are guaranteed with a direct connection.

Why Is Starlink Faster Than Other Satellite Services?

Starlink uses LowEarth Orbit (LEO) satellites which orbit the Earth much closer than ViaSat or HughesNet. Since the signal doesn’t have to travel as far, it’s speeds and latency perform much better than the competition.

Satellite vs. Fiber – Which is Better?

Satellite internet speeds are far outclassed by fiber internet. With Tachus Fiber Internet, you could reach speeds up to 5 Gbps, that’s nearly 50 times faster than what you could reach with the fastest satellite connection.

Fiber internet also provides synchronous speeds, which means you can upload and download simultaneously. This is ideal for services like online gaming, video calls and uploading large files.

Latency, reliability and responsiveness are all much better on fiber internet connections. Since fiber internet uses light to transmit data directly to your home at incredibly fast speeds, latency is significantly lower.

Also, fiber internet can continue to provide consistent connections even during inclement weather. Thanks to its durable technology, fiber internet is effectively weatherproof. Satellite signals, however, can be easily interrupted by storms or harsh weather.

Overall, fiber internet provides a faster, more reliable and durable connection than satellite internet.

Get internet at the speed of light!

While getting internet from outer space sounds cool, getting internet at the speed of light is even cooler.

With Tachus Fiber Internet, you can experience blazing-fast internet speeds directly to your front door.

Rain or shine, fiber is built to last, providing low latency and a reliable connection with our 100% fiber optic network.

Send slow speeds to the stratosphere. Check and see if Tachus is available in your community today!