Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet technology is now available to order Australia-wide, including in major cities, after it was granted approval from the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA).
Previously the Starlink internet beta was only operating in regional Victoria and NSW, but with approval from the ACMA, nothing is stopping it from now going Australia-wide. The only clause in this agreement is that the Starlink satellite network must not operate within 70 kilometres of the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory, which is located in Western Australia. This is so that the network of low-orbit Starlink satellites won’t interfere with the operations of the observatory, so it’s a very welcome condition in the ACMA licence.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a program run by Elon Musk’s space transportation company SpaceX, with the intention to provide broadband internet all over the world through an array of low-orbit satellites. Starlink internet is beamed into your home with the installation of a satellite dish, with only a single plan available ($139 per month for unlimited data) although this is subject to change. When released, it’ll be an alternative to the NBN in Australia, along with other internet types across the world.
When will Starlink be fully available in Australia?
Although Starlink is now available to pre-order Australia-wide, it’s still in beta, and as such it’s still having problems worked out – and still not actually available to most users outside of regional Victoria and NSW. Beta testers can expect occasional downtime and inconsistencies with their connection as it’s improved, with a release date projected for the end of 2021. That being said, that’s a global release date for an ambitious service, so don’t be surprised if it gets delayed.
If you’re more than excited about getting on board with Starlink, nothing should stop you from getting involved with the Starlink internet beta, or pre-ordering the service, no matter where you live in Australia. While only regional NSW and Victoria are able to sign up for beta testing with Starlink right now, if you’ve got the money to spend and want an alternative to the NBN or wireless broadband, pre-ordering Starlink is certainly an option to consider.
If you need an internet solution right now in Australia, check out the NBN plans in the table below. Even if you’re on the NBN right now, prices, discounts and inclusions are constantly changing, so it’s worth comparing NBN plans from time to time to make sure you’re getting the best value.
Unlimited NBN 100 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited NBN 50 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited NBN 25 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 25 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited NBN 12 Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 12 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Should I get Starlink?
Right now while it’s in beta, it’s difficult to say if Starlink is worth your time if you need a consistent internet connection, especially considering that Australia is mostly covered by internet solutions such as the NBN, NBN SkyMuster, ADSL and wireless broadband. Just for now, Starlink seems to only be for die-hards and those that want to get involved in the beta, and who happen to be located in areas where coverage is available.
That being said, users report high speeds for Starlink, usually between 50Mbps and 150Mbps, which is well above the highest speeds that NBN SkyMuster can reach (25Mbps). Offering unlimited data for $139 per month, plus $809 for the setup kit, it’s a noticeable jump in quality and price from a standard SkyMuster plan (usually priced around $60). We’ll wait and see how Starlink performs after its beta period to see if it’s worth your time, but for now it’s worth waiting.
Elon Musk has also stressed that Starlink is intended for people who don’t have consistent access to the internet where they currently live, meaning it’ll work better in sparsely populated areas rather than crowded cities. So even if you’re a die-hard, you’d also have to be living outside of a city.
For now, if you’re considering an alternative to the NBN, it’s worth picking up a home wireless broadband plan. Australians aren’t exactly spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a type of internet technology, so although home wireless broadband is typically slower, often data-capped and less consistent, it’s worth a look if you’ve been burned by the NBN. You can find home wireless broadband plans in the table below.
iiNet Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published iiNet home wireless broadband plans from Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Broadband Limiitless Plan
min. cost $44.99 over one month |
Unlimited | $44.99 | Go To Site |
 View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
TPG Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published TPG home wireless broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Broadband Unlimited Plan
min. cost $39.99 over first month |
Unlimited | $39.99 | Go To Site |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Optus 4G Home Internet Plans
The following table shows a selection of Optus 4G Home Internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4G Home Internet Unlimited (24 Month)
min. cost $1,357 over 24 month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
4G Home Internet Unlimited (Month-to-Month)
min. cost $275 (incl. $216 modem cost) over first month plan period |
Unlimited | $59 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
Southern Phone Wireless Broadband Plans
The following table shows a selection of published Southern Phone wireless broadband plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
| Brand | Features | Max Data**/billing period | Advertised Cost^^/billing period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Home Wireless Unlimited M2M
min. cost $270 over first month plan period |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
|
Home Wireless Unlimited 24M
min. cost $1,440 over 24 month plan period |
Unlimited | $60 | Link to provider unavailable |
| View all internet plans listed on Canstar Blue |
**^^View important information | |||
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