Don’t Use Starlink: Here’s Why It’s Not the Right Choice for Most People In South Africa

With all the hype surrounding Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet, it’s easy to think it’s the future of connectivity. And while the idea of fast internet from space sounds cool, Starlink isn’t the solution most people think it is — especially if you live in places like South Africa where better, cheaper alternatives already exist.

Here’s why you shouldn’t use Starlink — and what you should consider instead.

1. It’s Expensive — Way More Than It Should Be

Let’s start with the price:

•Hardware: Around R13,000–R15,000 just to get started.

•Monthly Fee: Around R1,100–R1,300 (even more for business use).

•Power Backup: Extra cost if you want to stay online during load    shedding.

That’s a lot of money when fibre and mobile internet options start at under R500/month with no major upfront cost.

2. Weather and Trees = Bad Signal

Unlike fibre or 5G, Starlink depends on a clear view of the sky. Trees, clouds, rain, buildings — all can block or weaken your signal.

If you live in a leafy suburb, a high-rise area, or anywhere with unstable weather, Starlink’s performance will suffer.

3. Load Shedding Makes It Even Worse

Starlink needs constant power — not just for the dish, but for the Wi-Fi router and modem too.

In a country like South Africa, where load shedding is a regular reality, this is a big problem unless you invest in:

•A UPS (battery backup)

•An inverter or solar setup

That’s another R5,000–R20,000 depending on your setup — just to keep your expensive internet on.

4. It’s Not Great for Gaming or Streaming

Starlink’s latency (or “lag”) is better than old-school satellite internet, but still higher than fibre or 5G. That means:

•Online gaming can be frustrating

•Zoom calls or Teams meetings might freeze or drop

•Streaming may buffer or drop quality during peak hours

5. Starlink Isn’t Even Officially Available in SA

At the time of writing, Starlink hasn’t launched officially in South Africa due to regulatory issues. That means:

•No local support

•No warranty

•No proper customer service

•You’re relying on grey-market resellers

If something goes wrong — good luck fixing it.

So What Should You Use Instead?

Here’s the good news: South Africa has solid internet options already, including:

•Fibre: Fast, stable, and affordable. Available in most towns and cities.

•5G & 4G/LTE: Great for areas without fibre. Mobile routers work well even during load shedding.

•Wireless ISPs (WISPs): Ideal for farms and remote areas.

•Mobile SIM routers: Affordable and portable. Many offer unlimited plans.

. Mobile Phones Signal Boosters: Totally affordable and no monthly charge, it is also licensed and approved by Icasa and other regulatory bodies in The country

All of these have better support, lower costs, and smoother performance than Starlink — and they don’t require a dish on your roof.

Starlink sounds exciting — but for most people, it’s more expensive, less reliable, and more hassle than it’s worth.

Unless you live in a remote location with no fibre, no mobile coverage and here a signal booster can really help resolve this issue, and no wireless ISPs, don’t use Starlink. You’ll get better value and performance elsewhere.