A recent study suggests the potential reach of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Germany is significantly greater than previously estimated. Researchers at the Technical University of Mittelhessen, as reported by the Handelsblatt, believe Starlink has the capacity to serve up to 13 million German households with download speeds of approximately 100 Megabits per second.
According to Kristof Obermann, the study’s author, the network’s capacity has expanded considerably. The research was commissioned by Breko, a broadband association comprising companies increasingly viewing Starlink as a competitor.
Starlink aims to gain traction in the German market through competitive pricing and expanding coverage. The current basic subscription, offering download speeds ranging from 45 to 130 Megabits per second, is priced at €29 per month. Data from the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) indicates that around 83,000 households were utilizing satellite internet by the end of 2024, with nearly all of those users accessing the service through Starlink.
Starlink is particularly viewed as a viable alternative in rural areas lacking extensive fiber optic infrastructure. While fiber optic connections offer the potential for substantially higher bandwidth, satellite internet distinguishes itself through its comparatively rapid deployment and availability.