STARLINK FAQ

Starlink is an advanced high-speed internet service utilizing satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). These satellites form a network capable of transmitting broadband signals to ground-level receivers anywhere on Earth. Unlike fibre optics, Starlink requires no ground infrastructure — making it the practical choice for remote and rural communities across Northern Canada where traditional internet has been unavailable or unreliable.

Yes. Starlink is available across Canada, including remote and rural areas of Northern Ontario where traditional broadband infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable. Starlink has become the primary connectivity solution for many communities, organizations, and businesses across the country.

You can view Starlink’s availability map here.

To check availability, visit the official Starlink website and enter your address. Note that some rural and remote locations will need to enter a Google Plus Code for their service address. The Starlink site will provide availability information based on your location and notify you when service becomes available if it is not already. You can also view Starlink’s availability map here.

For organizations and communities considering a larger deployment, contact FSET — we can confirm availability and advise on the right solution for your location and requirements.

Starlink offers multiple service tiers, with download speeds ranging from 100 Mbps on the entry-level plan up to 400+ Mbps on the premium tier. Actual speeds vary depending on your plan, location, time of day, and network conditions. For organizations, businesses, and communities in remote and rural areas, Starlink provides a significant improvement over existing options — and in many cases is the only viable high-speed solution available.

Visit starlink.com to see which plans and speeds are available at your location.

Starlink pricing has evolved significantly since the service launched and continues to change. Rather than publish figures that may be out of date, we recommend checking current plan pricing directly at starlink.com by entering your service address.

FSET can help organizations, businesses, and communities understand which plan and configuration makes the most sense for their requirements — contact us to discuss your needs.

View Starlink’s service plans here.

Starlink and fibre serve different needs. Fibre delivers faster speeds and lower latency where it is available, and is generally the better choice for high-density urban or suburban locations with reliable infrastructure.

Where Starlink excels is reach. Fibre and cable infrastructure does not exist across most of Northern Ontario and remote Canada — and building it is prohibitively expensive. For communities, organizations, and properties where fibre is not available, Starlink is not just a comparison — it is often the only viable high-speed option.

For a detailed comparison of Starlink and fibre internet, see our full breakdown:Starlink vs. Fibre Internet — A Full Comparison

Yes. Starlink’s low-Earth orbit design delivers latency of 20–40 milliseconds — significantly lower than traditional satellite internet, which typically ran 500–700ms. At those speeds, voice and video calls are reliable and consistent for most users. Major platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet all perform well on Starlink.

FSET deploys and manages Microsoft 365 and hosted VoIP over Starlink for organizations across Northwestern Ontario — including Pikangikum First Nation, where Teams and hosted voice run entirely over Starlink connectivity. For a community that previously had no viable option for real-time communication, this represents a fundamental change in how people work, learn, and connect.

For organizations requiring managed Microsoft 365, VoIP, or video infrastructure over Starlink, contact FSET to discuss your requirements.

Starlink kits include a dish, mounting base, Wi-Fi router, and cables — everything needed to get connected. Kits can be purchased outright or, in select areas, rented for the cost of shipping. The Starlink Mini is a more compact option suited to portable or travel use.
For organizational and community deployments, hardware requirements go beyond the basic kit. FSET assesses each site and recommends appropriate mounting, cabling, network integration hardware, and redundancy options based on your infrastructure and requirements.

View Starlink hardware specifications here.

For straightforward fixed installations, Starlink’s self-install process is well documented and manageable for most users. Starlink provides setup guides and the kit is designed to be user-friendly.

For organizational, community, or commercial deployments — including pole and tower mounts, multi-building installations, long cable runs, network integration, and managed infrastructure — professional installation is recommended. FSET handles Starlink installations for organizations and communities across Northwestern Ontario, ensuring equipment is properly sited, mounted, and integrated with your existing network.

Watch Starlink’s installation overview here.

Starlink recommends installing the dish within 150 feet of your building for optimal signal strength and connection stability. Longer cable runs are possible with extended cables or wireless bridge solutions, though performance can be affected and additional equipment may be required.

For community and organizational deployments where dishes need to be mounted at a distance from the served building — on a pole, tower, or separate structure — FSET can assess the site and design an appropriate installation.

Starlink Residential is designed for a fixed address — your home, office, or permanent facility. It provides faster, prioritized speeds and is the most cost-effective option if you have a consistent location.

Starlink Roam is designed for mobility. It allows you to use your Starlink connection at different locations — ideal for RVs, boats, seasonal travel, and remote work on the move. Roam plans are slightly more expensive and may experience lower speeds during peak periods since they are deprioritized relative to Residential customers.

If you have a permanent location, Residential is the right choice. If you need internet that travels with you, Roam is the better fit.

For organizations and communities evaluating Starlink, FSET can help determine which plan and deployment model suits your requirements.

Yes. Starlink Roam supports mobile use across Canada and is suitable for RVs, boats, and vehicles that are stationary or moving slowly. For use while actively in motion at highway speeds, the Flat High Performance dish is required — this is a more ruggedized hardware option designed for in-motion connectivity.

The Starlink Mini is a compact, portable option well suited to smaller vehicles, boats, and backcountry use where the full-size dish is impractical.

For organizations operating mobile command units, field response vehicles, or marine vessels that require managed connectivity, contact FSET to discuss hardware and plan options suited to your operational requirements.

Yes, with some considerations. Starlink Residential requires a service address and is optimized for a fixed location — it works well at a cottage or camp if you’re primarily using it from one place. If you move between locations or want internet access while travelling to and from the property, Starlink Roam offers the flexibility to connect from multiple locations across Canada.

For properties requiring professional installation, network integration, or connectivity for multiple units or users, contact FSET to discuss your requirements. For straightforward single-dish residential setups, Starlink’s self-install process is well documented at starlink.com.

Starlink is designed to operate through most weather conditions including heavy rain, wind, and extreme cold. The dish includes a built-in snow melt function that activates automatically to manage ice and light snow accumulation — an important feature in Northern Ontario winters.

Brief interruptions can occur during severe storms or heavy precipitation, but the low-Earth orbit design means the service recovers quickly once conditions improve. In our experience across Northwestern Ontario, Starlink performs reliably through the winter for the vast majority of users.

For organizations and communities where connectivity continuity is critical, FSET can advise on installation practices and redundancy options that minimize weather-related downtime.

Starlink is highly reliable for most users in Northern Ontario. The system is designed to operate through rain, wind, and cold temperatures, and the dish includes a built-in snow melt function to manage ice and light snow accumulation. Brief interruptions can occur during severe weather or heavy precipitation, but the low-Earth orbit design means the service recovers quickly.

FSET has deployed Starlink infrastructure across some of Canada’s most demanding northern environments — including 14 terminals along the north shore of Quebec for the Nunavik Police Service, in partnership with Axon. These deployments operate in extreme cold and remote conditions with no alternative connectivity options, and Starlink has proven reliable in that context. Read the full story.

FSET manages Starlink infrastructure for organizations and communities across Northwestern Ontario and can advise on installation practices that maximize uptime in Northern conditions.

Yes. Starlink offers business and priority plans designed for organizations that need consistent performance, higher throughput, and managed infrastructure. FSET has deployed Starlink across more than 120 communities and organizations across Canada — including First Nations, municipalities, health centres, and police services.

We design and manage solutions that integrate Starlink with your existing infrastructure, including managed routing, failover, and network monitoring. If you represent an organization, municipality, or community exploring Starlink connectivity, contact FSET to discuss your requirements.

Yes — Starlink deployment is one of FSET’s core specialties. We have installed Starlink infrastructure for organizations and communities across Northwestern Ontario and beyond, including First Nations, municipalities, health centres, and police services.

We handle everything from site assessment and plan selection through installation, network integration, and ongoing managed support. Whether you are connecting a single facility or an entire community, FSET can design and manage a solution built around your requirements.

Contact FSET to start the conversation.