Farming UK has reported that Elon Musk’s SpaceX has begun testing its Starlink broadband service in the English countryside, as part of plans to ‘blanket’ Earth with high-speed broadband coverage that could prove revolutionary in rural parts of the country

The satellites will deliver high speed, low latency broadband to the ground, meaning a faster and more reliable service for users, including speeds of between 50 and 150 Mbps. Whilst 4G and 5G are currently common solutions for those in poorly connected areas, these lack range and suffer similar coverage issues to broadband.

Starlink is currently charging UK customers £439 for the satellite dish, with a regular monthly fee of £89 and an additional £54 shipping fee.

The report notes that despite the steeper price and not reaching the super high speeds that can be accessed by fibre optic, the technology could nonetheless prove ‘transformative’ for rural businesses. It suggests it is possible that a considerably improved internet connection in the countryside, twinned with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, could persuade firms to move out of major cities and use more satellite offices in rural areas in future.

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Farming UK - SpaceX satellites could transform UK rural businesses