Starlink Explained: How Satellite Internet Works, What It Costs and Where It Is Legal

What is Starlink and how does it work?

Starlink is a satellite internet service run by SpaceX. Instead of cables or a phone mast, a user terminal (the dish) on a roof or in a garden connects to satellites, which pass traffic to the wider internet. SpaceX's quarterly report for the period ending 30 September 2026 says it has over 11,100 Starlink broadband and mobile satellites in low Earth orbit and serves customers in 174 countries, territories and other markets ^[2].

The satellites orbit in low Earth orbit (LEO), about 550 km above the ground ^[5]. Because they move quickly across the sky, a terminal must keep handing off from one satellite to the next as they pass overhead ^[5]. Traditional geostationary satellites sit over one spot much higher up ^[5]. SpaceX's prospectus defines medium Earth orbit as roughly 2,000 km to 35,786 km above the surface ^[1], which shows how much closer LEO satellites are.

The terminal uses a phased-array antenna, which SpaceX describes as self-aligning, so users do not aim it by hand ^[1]. Satellites can also pass data to each other by laser. SpaceX said that by 31 March 2026 its constellation had over 23,000 inter-satellite lasers forming a mesh network that lets traffic route through orbit rather than relying only on ground infrastructure ^[1].

How fast is Starlink in practice?

SpaceX's own figures, from its June 2026 prospectus, put median latency at about 25 milliseconds and median peak-hour download speed at 225 Mbps for residential users, both as of 31 March 2026 ^[1]. Latency is the delay between sending data and its arrival, measured in milliseconds; SpaceX defines a low-latency network as one below 70 ms ^[1].

These are company-reported medians, so individual results vary. The plan tier matters: the top US home plan, Residential Max, is described as reaching up to 400 Mbps, while the cheaper tiers are sold as 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans ^[3]. Local demand also matters. In 2024 Starlink priced hardware at $499 or $299 depending on local network congestion, linking price to how busy the network is in each area ^[3].

SpaceX expects more capacity from next-generation V3 satellites, which it says are designed for one terabit per second of downlink each; in its June 2026 prospectus it said it expected to begin deploying them on Starship in the second half of 2026 ^[1]. That is a company plan and not a measured result.

How much does Starlink cost in 2026?

Prices vary by country and change often, so the figures below are US prices reported in June 2026. Ars Technica reported that Starlink raised service prices by $5 to $10 a month and was charging $55 for the 100 Mbps plan, $85 for 200 Mbps and $130 for the Max tier ^[3]. 9to5Google reported the earlier prices as $50, $80 and $120, and Roam Unlimited (the mobile plan) rising from $165 to $175 ^[4].

Hardware changed too. Starlink began charging a $10 monthly kit rental fee, with $0 upfront, for residential service, instead of selling the dish outright on its own website ^[3]. PCMag, cited by Ars Technica, reported the rental fee appearing for new customers in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Australia and Mexico ^[3]. Renters cannot pause service, but existing customers can ask support to buy their kit ^[3]. Retailers sold the standard dish for $349, sometimes discounted ^[3].

Other costs: professional installation was $199, or free with the Max plan ^[3]. The smaller Starlink Mini could still be bought for $199, used with Roam plans at $55 a month for 100 GB or $80 for 300 GB ^[4]. SpaceX reported average revenue per consumer user (ARPU) of $69 a month in Q3 2026, down from $83 a year earlier ^[2], and expects ARPU to keep declining as more subscribers come from outside North America and cheaper plans are added ^[1]. This is general information, not financial advice; check the price for your address before ordering.

Where is Starlink legal, and where is it not?

A satellite can physically reach almost anywhere, but selling service needs permission from each country. SpaceX says international frequency use is coordinated through International Telecommunication Union (ITU) filings made through the US Federal Communications Commission and similar bodies, and through country-by-country market access approvals for service outside the US ^[1]. As of its Q3 2026 report, SpaceX listed 174 countries, territories and other markets ^[2], up from 164 at the end of March 2026 ^[1].

Some large markets are still pending or closed:

• India: TechCrunch reported in October 2026 that the communications ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators were at broadly the same regulatory stage, undergoing security assessments that must finish before they can apply for spectrum; the commercial launch date was unclear ^[9].
• South Africa: Advanced Television reported in May 2026 that the regulator ICASA was resisting Communications Minister Solly Malatsi's push for Starlink to be allowed to operate; ICASA said full alignment with the amended ICT sector code, including equity equivalent investment programmes, would require amending the Electronic Communications Act, and the minister said the government would pursue legislative amendments to enable such programmes ^[8].
• Iran: Starlink is outlawed on national security grounds (details in the next section) ^[6].

Where Starlink is not licensed, using a terminal can break local law even if the signal works. This is general information, not legal advice; the national telecom regulator is the authority on local rules.

What is Starlink's status in Iran?

Starlink has no licence to operate in Iran, and thousands of terminals have reportedly been smuggled in since 2022 ^[5]. Al Jazeera reported in October 2026 that "tens of thousands" are believed to be in the country, with no exact figure known ^[6]. Under Iranian law, as summarised by Al Jazeera, using or possessing Starlink carries baseline sentences of six months to two years, importing or distributing terminals up to five years, and the death penalty is possible when combined with national security or espionage charges ^[6].

Iranian authorities have also tried to block the service. Al Jazeera reported attempts to jam Starlink signals and seize terminals during the January 2026 blackout ^[5], and in October 2026 described jammers, spoofed GPS locations and raids on sellers ^[6]. Terminals accept signals from a wider angle than geostationary dishes, which makes them more exposed to jamming ^[5]. Reports in January 2026 that Starlink offered free service in Iran came from a person speaking to Bloomberg and were not publicly confirmed by Starlink or Elon Musk ^[5].

On the US side, the Treasury issued Iran General License D-2 in September 2022 to expand internet access for Iranians by letting technology companies offer them more options ^[7]. That US authorisation does not change Iranian law. Iran has pressed the ITU's Radio Regulations Board since 2023 over Starlink transmissions in its territory ^[6].

What are the benefits and limits of Starlink?

Benefits

• Coverage where cable and fibre do not reach: SpaceX says it has the technological capability to provide service everywhere on Earth, including the poles ^[1].
• Lower latency than higher-orbit satellite services, with a company-reported median of about 25 ms ^[1].
• Self-install hardware: SpaceX says its terminals are designed for quick consumer setup and for in-motion use at up to 100 mph ^[1].

Limits and risks

• Cost: monthly fees plus hardware, and prices that have changed several times since 2020 ^[3].
• Shared capacity: Starlink has set hardware prices by local network congestion, so terms differ by location ^[3].
• Legal status depends on each country's approval ^[1]; in some places use carries criminal penalties ^[6].
• Interference: jamming and GPS spoofing can degrade service ^[5][6].
• Geopolitics: SpaceX warns that foreign governments have discussed anti-satellite weapons against the constellation ^[1].

How does Starlink compare with other ways to get online?

Compared with geostationary satellite internet, Starlink's LEO satellites are far closer to Earth ^[1][5]; SpaceX's prospectus describes low Earth orbit as used for broadband because of its lower latency compared with higher orbits ^[1]. SpaceX also runs Starlink Mobile, which provides satellite-to-mobile connectivity through partnerships with about 30 mobile network operators, serving about 7.4 million monthly unique devices in roughly 30 countries as of 31 March 2026 ^[1]. SpaceX describes that service as supplementing terrestrial networks and reducing mobile dead zones ^[1].

A practical checklist before ordering: check whether Starlink is licensed in your country ^[1], compare the local monthly price with any wired options, and confirm whether the kit is rented or bought ^[3].

What happens next for Starlink?

Growth has been fast. SpaceX reported 13.6 million Starlink consumer subscribers on 30 September 2026 against 7.2 million a year earlier ^[2]. A "subscriber" here is a service line, not a person, so a household with a home plan and a roaming plan counts twice ^[2].

Three things to watch as of 3 November 2026: the arrival of V3 satellites on Starship, which SpaceX says should raise capacity ^[1]; pending approvals in large markets such as India ^[9] and South Africa ^[8]; and further price or hardware-term changes, which Starlink has made several times since its 2020 launch, according to Ars Technica ^[3].