Internet via satellite is arriving in Italy too and it costs as much as an ADSL. Everything you need to know

Satellite Internet now costs as much as an ADSL or fiber optic connection and is available everywhere. The life of users, professionals and small companies who find themselves in places where traditional broadband technology does not reach becomes more acceptable; not only the fixed network but also 5G or fixed wireless access. The latest move comes from Starlink, a division of SpaceX, the company of the famous billionaire Elon Musk: it has halved the cost of the basic internet offer, which compared to the premium one has some limits on speed. However, Tim’s promotion is also noteworthy, as it now has a very aggressive price compared to the competition. The performance of satellite offers is now acceptable compared to the recent past of satellite internet, which historically has suffered from serious latency problems; and disruptions in the event of bad weather.
Good (i.e. low) latency is essential for online gaming and internet football matches, but it has always been difficult to achieve if the internet comes to us from a satellite thousands of kilometers from the earth.

Starlink

Here Musk’s novelty comes into play: his satellites, placed in a “constellation” format (or “train” as some call them) are at low altitude, between 1,100 and 1,300 kilometers. Latency – the connection time from the satellite to us – is thus reduced to 25-60 milliseconds. An order of magnitude smaller than traditional satellites, larger and placed in geostationary orbit. Starlink’s innovation was precisely to invent this technology made of mini satellites sent into the sky in large quantities with rockets which in turn use an innovative system. Starlink also ensures that this technology is not affected by bad weather. The latest offer is 29 euros per month with speeds of 50-100 Mbps; “low priority”, so during rush hours there can be a considerable drop in speed. Instead, it goes up to 130-255 Mbps for Starlink Standard, at 40 euros per month. The cost of the satellite kit, necessary to buy to connect to Starlink, is also discounted (the Sky kit cannot be used, be careful): 225 euros. This is the greatest cost to be faced with satellite internet, compared to other types of connections. Even with other operators it remains in this price range. Starlink also has offers for companies, where you spend from 93 euros and up per month and the satellite kit is different, from 2355 euros. The maximum speed is the same as the plan residential, what changes is the priority which is higher with business plans; consequently you will be more likely to reach the maximum speeds, 255 Mbps. An Ookla study estimates that the average speed of Italian Starlink users is just over 100 Mbps, a bit like Vdsl connections (mixed copper fiber optics). In any case case, the company offers 30 days “satisfied or refunded” to try the service.

SkyDsl

Another operator that is getting noticed in this period is SkyDsl, a multinational that has been operating in the sector for twenty years. It uses Eutelsat’s Ka-Sat satellite, with Spot-Beam technology. Where once in Europe it was only possible to send data sequentially (one following the other), now Spot-Beam technology through the various regional Spot-Beams instead allows data to be sent in a parallel and independent manner.Use also the Acm technology which guarantees connection stability even in case of bad weather. The latency on the other hand is typical of a satellite connection. SkyDsl writes that it is almost never a problem, with the exception of online shooter games for which it suggests combining an ADSL (with costs which however increase; provided they are also covered by this service). The speed of the average package , the best-selling, is 24 Mbps (therefore more than ADSL) for a cost of 29.90 euros per month, plus 29.90 for activation. To save, there is the offer of 16.90 euros per month , plus activation, at 12 Mbps but there are only 15 GB of traffic per month. It goes up to 34.90 euros per month (plus activation) for the 40 Megabits. 50 Mbps option is also possible, paying 2.90 euros in more.Sending speeds range from 1 to 6 Megabits.The satellite kit can be rented or purchased in installments and is modular; it can be made up of various pieces chosen by the user. For example, the most complete one (also for TV) comes to 6.90 euros per month for 24 months plus 14.90 one-off. There is the antenna, the modem, the sending or receiving unit. SkyDsl also has a 30-day money back guarantee.

Tim

Our national operator is also in the satellite game; following all, Tim is committed to offering all types of internet access. The cost of Tim’s “Premium Sat” is 34.90 euros per month, up to 100 Megabits per second (and 5 in upload); competitive price and speed compared to Starlink. In reality it is now in a “special promo”, compared to the standard price of 49.90 euros, and also includes the costs of the kit installments and installation. Premium Sat therefore now has a competitive price very aggressive. But be careful: the maximum speed is only valid for 100 GB of monthly traffic. “When the limit is exceeded, the speed is reduced to 4 Mbps in download and 1 Mbps in upload. From 00.00 to 7.00 “free zone” without erosion of the monthly limit and navigation always at maximum speed (100/5 Mega). The month of traffic is counted starting from the activation date and until midnight before the same calendar day of the following month”. Furthermore, unlike other operators, it does not cover all of Italy: it excludes Sicily and southern Sardinia. Tim uses Eutelsat’s Konnect satellite exclusively.