Starlink vs NBN: We Tested Both in Rural Victoria
I’ve been promising this comparison for months. After testing both Starlink and NBN at three rural Victorian properties over six weeks, I finally have enough data to share.
Spoiler: it’s not as simple as “Starlink is better” or “NBN is fine.” The right choice depends entirely on your situation.
The Test Locations
Property 1: Farm near Stawell NBN Fixed Wireless connection. About 8km from the nearest tower. This is my cousin’s place—I spent many summers here as a kid.
Property 2: Lifestyle block outside Ararat NBN Satellite (Sky Muster). Classic rural Victoria setup—lovely property, terrible internet.
Property 3: Farmhouse near Hamilton NBN Fixed Wireless, relatively close to tower (3km). Better than average rural connection.
All three properties installed Starlink for testing purposes alongside their existing NBN.
Speed Test Results
I ran tests morning, afternoon, and evening over multiple weeks. Here are the averages:
Property 1 (Stawell area)
| Download | Upload | Latency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN Fixed Wireless | 28 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 45ms |
| Starlink | 142 Mbps | 18 Mbps | 38ms |
Clear Starlink advantage here. The fixed wireless connection was decent but inconsistent, dropping significantly during peak evening hours.
Property 2 (Ararat area)
| Download | Upload | Latency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN Sky Muster | 19 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 620ms |
| Starlink | 156 Mbps | 22 Mbps | 42ms |
No contest. Sky Muster’s high latency makes video calls painful and real-time applications almost unusable. Starlink transformed what this property could do online.
Property 3 (Hamilton area)
| Download | Upload | Latency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN Fixed Wireless | 48 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 32ms |
| Starlink | 128 Mbps | 15 Mbps | 44ms |
Closer than the others. The NBN connection here was actually quite good—consistent enough for video calls and general business use.
Beyond Raw Speed
Numbers don’t tell the whole story. Here’s what matters in practice:
Reliability
NBN Fixed Wireless at Property 3 was rock solid. Properties 1 and 2 had regular dropouts.
Starlink was consistent across all three properties, though I noticed brief interruptions (seconds, not minutes) every few days—the satellites are still finding optimal positioning.
Weather Impact
Heavy rain affected NBN Fixed Wireless noticeably. Starlink handled rain well but struggled during one severe storm with thick cloud cover.
Neither performed well during a multi-day power outage (obviously), but Starlink’s lower power draw made it easier to run on a generator.
Peak Hour Performance
NBN Fixed Wireless slowed significantly between 7-10pm. Starlink maintained fairly consistent speeds throughout the day.
The Cost Question
Let’s talk money:
NBN Fixed Wireless: ~$70-90/month for a good plan NBN Sky Muster: ~$70-110/month depending on data allowances Starlink: $139/month plus $599 equipment (one-time)
Starlink is more expensive, no question. But for Property 2 with Sky Muster, the difference in usability justified the cost immediately. For Property 3 with good Fixed Wireless, it’s a harder call.
My Recommendations
Get Starlink if:
- You’re on NBN Satellite (Sky Muster)
- Your NBN Fixed Wireless is unreliable or slow
- You depend on video calls and real-time applications
- You can afford the higher monthly cost
Stick with NBN if:
- Your Fixed Wireless connection is genuinely good (40+ Mbps, consistent)
- Budget is tight
- You’re in an area flagged for NBN upgrades soon
- Basic internet use is sufficient for your needs
Consider both if:
- You need maximum reliability for business
- You can expense the cost
- Having redundant connections matters
The Real Issue
Here’s what frustrated me most: these properties are all within 100km of each other, yet their internet situations are dramatically different. The inconsistency of regional internet infrastructure means there’s no universal answer.
Check your actual NBN performance (use speedtest.net at different times). Check the NBN coverage map for upgrade schedules. Talk to neighbours about their experience. Then decide.
What I do know: competition is good. Starlink’s existence puts pressure on NBN to improve. That benefits all of us in regional areas, regardless of which service we choose.