Starlink, Elon Musk’s revolutionary satellite internet service, has officially arrived in Ghana, after months of speculation and delay.
With its network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink promises to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access, transforming the way Ghanaians work, learn, and communicate.
How does Starlink work?
Starlink’s technology relies on a constellation of thousands of satellites orbiting Earth at a much lower altitude than traditional satellites. This proximity allows for faster data transfer speeds and reduced latency, making the service feel more like a terrestrial internet connection.
- Starlink to formally start operations in Ghana, end of August
- What is Elon Musk’s Starlink internet? And is it in Ghana?
As of April 2024, the network boasted approximately 5,800 LEO satellites, ensuring widespread coverage and reliable performance.
Starlink’s service plans and cost in Ghana
Starlink offers a range of service plans to cater to different needs and budgets. Below are the costs for personal/residential usage.
Standard Plan: Priced at GH?770 per month, this plan provides unlimited data, making it suitable for households and individuals with moderate internet usage.
Standard Priority Plan: Available for GH?1,078 per month, the Priority Plan offers unlimited standard data, along with additional features such as public IP access, network priority, and priority support. It’s ideal for businesses and users with high data demands.
Roam Mobile Plan: Starting at GH?1,540 per month, this plan is designed for those who need internet connectivity on the go, including remote workers, campers, and businesses operating in various locations. It offers unlimited mobile data within Ghana, with pricing adjustments based on the desired level of priority data.
Roam Priority Plan (BOATS): Tailored for maritime users, emergency responders, and mobile businesses, this plan provides specialized features like inland and ocean use data, network priority, and priority support. The cost ranges from GH?4,428 per month for 50GB of data to GH?17,710 per month for 1TB of additional data.
How much does the Starlink router and dish (hardware) cost for Ghanaians?
In addition to the subscription fees, customers will need to purchase the necessary hardware, which includes a Starlink dish and router. The hardware cost is currently GH?5,390, with an additional GH?354 for shipping.
Is Starlink cheaper than existing internet services in Ghana?
As of August 2024, Starlink is more expensive than existing internet services in Ghana.
While Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet, it comes at a premium. The initial hardware cost and monthly subscription fees are higher compared to traditional providers like MTN, Telecel Ghana (previously Vodafone), and AirtelTigo.
Will Starlink be faster than current internet services in Ghana?
Absolutely. While specific speeds can vary based on factors like location, network congestion, and weather conditions, Starlink is designed to provide significantly faster internet access than many existing options in Ghana.
Tests by some Ghanaian users have already shown up to 100x better results than MTN Ghana.
Starlink and MTN Speed Test in Ghana – Which one downloads faster in Ghana!! pic.twitter.com/tQO4EZjfLJ
— Tech In Twi (@tech_twi) May 20, 2024
See below table comparing Starlink cost and internet speed to MTN Fibre and Vodafone Broadband in Ghana.
Provider | Monthly Cost | Speed (Approx.) | Data Limit |
MTN Fibre | GHS 770 | 34.18 Mbps | 550GB |
Vodafone Broadband | GHS 770 | 33.3 Mbps | 701GB |
Starlink (Standard) | GHS 770 | 290 Mbps | Unlimited |
The post Starlink in Ghana: How much it cost for hardware and monthly fees first appeared on 3News.
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