About

Starlink in Botswana

Starlink is a satellite constellation system that aims to deliver global internet coverage. This system is ideally suited for rural and geographically isolated areas where internet connectivity is unreliable or nonexistent. Enter Starlink in Botswana

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What is Starlink?

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How Does It Work?

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Starlink Business & Residential

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Starlink FAQs

During a business summit in USA in May 2024, Ben MacWilliams who leads the Starlink Market Access team for the African continent, expressed interest in obtaining a license to operate in Botswana. The proposal was heard by the President of Botswana, Masisi and approval was expedited. Following the Presidents directive, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) completed the licensing process within 2 weeks!

How Does it Work?

Starlink operates on a satellite internet service technology that has been around for decades. Instead of using cable technology, such as fiber to transmit internet data, a satellite system uses radio signals through space. Ground send and receive stations broadcast signals to satellites in orbits, which in turn relay the data back to the Starlink users on Earth. Extra info – Each satellite in the Starlink constellation weighs 260 kgs and has a flat body.

The availability map on Starlink’s website provides ranges for download, upload and latency speeds for each country that has access to the service.

Starlink’s website notes that users can expect download speeds between 25 and 200 Mbps and upload speeds between 5 and 20 Mbps.

Starlink Business

Starlink Business plans have physically larger antenna than home plans, with more elements for better performance.

They can send and receive more powerful signals.
They are more durable, with improved performance in all weather conditions.
Offer a better-quality connection with lower latency and improved performance.
Higher bandwidth when more satellites are in the sky.

Starlink business is one of the four internet plans offered by Starlink. Its an internet plan for consumers, especially for business owners and other enterprise-related applications requiring satellite internet connectivity for multiple devices at the same time. The stability, high-speed, and publicly routable DHCP of Starlink Business make it stand out from others in the industry.

The internet service offers admin-grade features for all businesses requiring a free flow of internet for multiple devices simultaneously. Starlink Business includes features such as Static IP, easy VPN connection, outstanding support for basic and advanced functions as well as round-the-clock priority support.

You can utilize a fiber-like performance with this internet service, with high upload and download speeds, no matter the size of the files. Starlink Business also facilitates real-time collaboration with seamless video conferencing. Its low latency makes it suitable for IoT use like security systems, sensors, autonomous machinery, robotics, wearable technology, and more.

Starlink Residential

Starlink Residential is now termed as Starlink Standard. As the name suggests, it is a standard residential home internet plan that Starlink in Botswana now offers.

All you need to access this internet is an at-home connection. The plan offers a seamless internet experience to the whole family, offering good upload and download speeds and affordable prices.

If you reside in an area with a low-capacity network, you can utilize this internet service and make the most of it. Even if you live in a high-capacity network area, you can utilize Starlink Standard Internet.

Pros and Cons of Starlink Business

Pros

Starlink Business offers unlimited internet data and the fastest download and upload speed.
It is an ideal internet plan for businesses based on its consistent speed and stability.
Unlimited users can make the most of fast and consistent speed at the same time in the Starlink Business plan.
Starlink Business offers lower latency and doesn’t require you to sign any contract.
You can cancel your subscription for free.
The dish is easy to install and the monthly internet service is affordable for businesses.

Cons

Compared to fiber and radio links, the hardware of Starlink Business is more expensive.
Low earth orbit interferes with the internet service.
The availability of Starlink Business still remains a major issue.

Important Things to Know about Starlink Business

Starlink Business offers a better download speed (100-350 Mbps) and upload speed (20-40 Mbps) as compared to Residential Starlink, which has a download speed of 50-200 Mbps, while an upload speed of 10-20 Mbps.
Starlink Business has better speed, stability, consistency, and services than Residential Starlink. However, it is also more expensive.
Starlink Business plan comes with a larger antenna.

FAQ

How to connect to Starlink?

Once users subscribe to Starlink, they receive a Starlink kit that includes a satellite dish, a dish mount and a Wi-Fi router base unit. Starlink also comes with a power cable for the base unit and a 20m cable for connecting the dish to the router.
To use the service, Starlink customers must first set up the satellite dish to start receiving the signal and pass the bandwidth to the router. The company offers various mounting options for the dish, including for yards, rooftops and home exteriors. There’s also a Starlink app for Android and Apple iOS that uses augmented reality to guide users in selecting the best location and position for their receivers.

Can you use Starlink in bad weather?

Starlink uses LEO satellites and a phased array antenna to help keep its performance intact during extreme weather conditions.

Cloudy weather – A normal cloudy day won’t affect Starlink. However, storm clouds could affect the signals, as they tend to create rain, which may cause signal interruptions. Storm clouds are also moister and denser, which can play a big part in the degradation of a satellite signal.
Rain. Light rain generally doesn’t cause issues, but a heavy downpour can affect the Starlink signal quality. Heavy rain is associated with thick, dense clouds. The denser the clouds are, the higher the chances that the radio signals coming to and from the Starlink satellites could get blocked.
Winds. A properly secured and mounted Starlink dish that doesn’t sway or move won’t be affected by strong winds. The Starlink dish comes with a phased array antenna that can track satellites flying overhead without the need to move physically. This also helps prevent signal interruptions.

We don’t have to worry about snow or ice in Botswana. Don’t worry. For more Tech News, click here.

Starlink in Botswana: Things You Need To Know