FUTURE TECH

Starlink: Internet from Space – The End of Slow Wi-Fi?

Feb 8, 2026 6 min read

For decades, we relied on underground cables for the internet. If you lived in a city, it was fast. If you lived in a village, it was non-existent. Elon Musk changed the game with Starlink. But how does “Internet from the sky” actually work?

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a constellation of thousands of small satellites orbiting the Earth. Unlike traditional satellites that are 35,000km away (causing slow speeds), Starlink satellites are only 550km away. This is called Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Closer satellites mean faster internet and lower latency.

How It Works (Simply Explained)

The Dish (User Terminal)

You buy a small white dish (nicknamed “Dishy”). You place it on your roof where it has a clear view of the sky. It automatically moves to find satellites.

The Laser Link

The dish beams data up to a satellite. The satellite shoots the data via lasers to another satellite, until it hits a ground station connected to the main internet.

The Speed

Because light travels faster in the vacuum of space than in glass fiber cables, Starlink can theoretically be faster than fiber optic for long distances.

Starlink vs. Fiber Optic vs. 5G

Feature	Starlink 🛰️	Fiber Optic 🔌	5G Mobile 📱
Best For	Remote Areas / Rural	Cities / Dense Areas	Mobile Phones
Speed	100 – 250 Mbps	1,000+ Mbps	50 – 500 Mbps
Installation	DIY (Easy)	Requires Professional	None (Sim Card)
Cost	High (Equipment cost)	Medium	Low

Is Starlink Worth the Money?

We tested Starlink speed in East Africa. See the results and if it’s right for your business.

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