How Much Does Starlink Cost for Businesses? UK Price Guide

When your business internet fails, every minute costs money. For UK businesses in areas with limited fibre options, or needing bulletproof backup connectivity, Starlink has become a serious contender.

So how much does Starlink actually cost for businesses? Hardware ranges from £0 to £2,470, monthly service from £75 to £1,000+, and professional installation adds £500-£1,200. Understanding your total investment requires breaking down each component.

Understanding Starlink Technology

Starlink delivers high-speed internet through an advanced constellation of low-earth orbit satellites, eliminating the need for traditional cable or fibre infrastructure. This makes it particularly valuable in two key business scenarios:

Primary Internet Connection: For businesses in rural or underserved areas where fibre options are limited, expensive, or simply unavailable.

Failover/Redundancy: As a backup system that activates automatically when your primary connection fails, ensuring business continuity without relying on the same physical infrastructure.

Unlike traditional satellite internet that suffers from latency exceeding 500ms, Starlink typically achieves 25-50ms latency, acceptable for most business applications including VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud-based software.

Total Cost Breakdown: What You'll Actually Pay

Starlink costs comprise three distinct elements that together determine your total investment:

1. Monthly Starlink Internet Service Fees  

2. Starlink Kit Prices 

3. Starlink Installation Costs

1. Monthly Starlink Internet Service Fees

Starlink completely restructured business pricing in 2025, introducing tiered "Priority Data" options that better align costs with actual usage requirements.

For Fixed Business Locations

Business Fixed Plan

• Starting cost: £75/month (includes unlimited standard data + 40GB priority data)

• Priority data upgrades:

  • 1TB priority data: £150/month

  • 2TB priority data: £300/month

• Includes: Static IP address, business-grade support, 99.9% uptime SLA

• Best for: Primary office internet or high-availability backup

What is Priority Data? Priority data guarantees consistent speeds even during network congestion periods. Once your priority allocation is consumed, speeds throttle to 1 Mbps download / 0.5 Mbps upload, still sufficient for basic operations but not ideal for multiple simultaneous users.

For backup/failover scenarios, most businesses find 40-100GB priority data sufficient since the connection only activates during primary outages. Our IT support specialists can determine how much you need during a free installation consultation.

For Mobile Business Use

Business Mobile Plan

• Starting cost: £206/month (50GB priority data)

• Priority data options:

  • 1TB priority data: £808/month

  • 5TB priority data: £4,038/month

• Coverage: UK, European coastal waters, in-motion connectivity

• Includes: Business support, maritime capability, automatic satellite switching

• Best for: Maritime operations, mobile service teams, remote site work

For Budget-Conscious Scenarios

Residential Plan (Business Use)

• Cost: £75/month

• Limitation: Unlimited standard data only (no priority allocation)

• Reality check: Works for small offices during off-peak hours or pure backup scenarios

• Trade-off: No business SLA, consumer-grade support, potential congestion issues

• Our recommendation: Acceptable for backup-only deployments where it rarely activates

2. Starlink Kit Prices - Hardware (One-Time Purchase)

The equipment you need depends entirely on your use case and installation location:

Standard Kit - £0 to £299

• Best for: Fixed office locations, primary or backup internet

• Coverage: UK mainland with clear sky view

• New pricing model: £0 upfront with 12-month service commitment (£75/month minimum)

• Traditional purchase: £299 upfront, no commitment required

• Important: High-demand areas (primarily London and Southeast England) incur an additional one time £195 congestion surcharge fee

• Performance: Handles 50-200 Mbps typically, suitable for offices up to 20 staff

• Included router: Gen 3 WiFi 6 router with 3,200 sq ft coverage

Mini Kit - £399

• Best for: Temporary sites, mobile offices, rapid deployment scenarios

• Advantage: Integrated WiFi eliminates separate router needs, ultra-portable

• Power consumption: 25-40W (can run on portable power stations)

• Trade-off: Smaller antenna means slightly lower speeds in congested periods

• Ideal for: Construction site offices, pop-up locations, emergency backup

High Performance Kit - £2,470

• Best for: Mission-critical applications, harsh weather environments, mobile connectivity

• Enhanced capabilities: 135° field of view, superior throughput, weather-resistant

• Business priority: Recommended when consistent performance is non-negotiable

• Performance: Handles up to 400 Mbps, suitable for larger offices and remote locations

• Mobile option: Flat High Performance variant available for vehicle/vessel mounting

Enterprise Kit - £659

• Best for: Fixed business locations requiring high performance at lower cost

• Specifications: Similar to Standard Kit but optimized for business use

• Router: Not included - use enterprise-grade 3rd party router

• Limitation: Not suitable for mobile/travel applications

• Note: Limited availability - verify with Starlink before ordering 

Clarifying Starlink internet speeds: The High Performance kit doesn't automatically translate to faster internet speeds. The Starlink network, not the hardware, is the primary determinant of your connection's performance.  

All Starlink hardware can handle high speed internet, and your actual experience depends on your service plan and local network usage, rather than the specific kit you choose. Ultimately, the choice of kit should align with your specific use case and budget.  

3. Professional Installation Investment

While Starlink equipment is technically "DIY-friendly," professional installation for business deployments offers significant advantages in reliability, performance optimisation, and long-term maintenance.

What Professional Installation Includes:

• Site survey and line-of-sight analysis to identify optimal mounting location

• Secure mounting with appropriate weatherproofing for permanent installations

• Professional cable routing with proper external/internal protection

• Integration with existing network infrastructure (firewalls, managed switches, failover routing)

• Performance testing and optimisation

• Documentation for your IT records

• Warranty protection (DIY installations may void certain coverage)

Typical Installation Costs:

• Simple roof/wall mount: £500-£750

• Complex installations (difficult access, long cable runs, multi-building): £800-£1,200

• Advanced integrations (automatic failover configuration, mesh network integration): £1,200-£1,800

Required Additional Components:

• Starlink mounting bracket: £60-£120 (varies by installation type)

• Professional-grade cable routing kit: £85

• External cable protection and clips: £10-£25

• Weatherproofing materials: £20-£40

DIY Considerations: While possible for temporary or low-stakes deployments, business installations typically benefit from professional expertise. Improper mounting can result in signal interruption from obstructions, weather damage from inadequate sealing, or performance degradation from suboptimal positioning.

Hardware Rental Options

Direct from Starlink: Business hardware rental is no longer available in the UK. The previous £100/month High Performance rental option has been discontinued.

Third-Party Rentals: For temporary requirements (events, construction projects, short-term deployments), several UK companies offer Starlink equipment rentals ranging from £150-£300/week depending on the kit type and duration. This can be cost-effective for:

• Event connectivity (festivals, outdoor weddings, temporary venues)

• Short-term construction sites (under 3 months)

• Trial periods before committing to purchase

• Emergency backup during primary system failures

Real-World Cost Scenarios

Let's examine actual total costs for common business use cases:

Scenario 1: Small Office Primary Internet (Rural Location)

Requirements: 8-person office, rural Devon, no fibre available

Hardware: Standard Kit - £0 (12-month commitment) Monthly Service: Business Fixed 40GB priority - £75/month Installation: Standard roof mount - £650 Additional Hardware: Mounting + routing kit - £150

First Year Total: £1,700 (£800 setup + £900 annual service) Subsequent Years: £900/year

Alternative Cost: Leased line in rural area - £350-600/month (£4,200-£7,200/year) + £2,000+ installation

Savings: £2,500-£5,500 annually vs traditional business broadband

Scenario 2: City Office Backup/Failover

Requirements: 25-person office, Manchester, existing 500Mbps fibre, requiring resilient backup

Hardware: Standard Kit - £299 (no commitment) Monthly Service: Business Fixed 40GB priority - £75/month Installation: Integration with existing network + automatic failover - £1,100 Additional Hardware: Managed router with failover capability - £300

First Year Total: £2,599 (£1,699 setup + £900 annual service) Subsequent Years: £900/year

Cost Per Hour of Avoided Downtime: If Starlink prevents just 4 hours of downtime annually (at £500/hour cost = £2,000 loss), the investment pays for itself immediately.

Scenario 3: Construction Site Temporary Office

Requirements: 6-month project, temporary site office, 5 staff

Hardware: Mini Kit - £399 (portable, reusable for future projects) Monthly Service: Residential plan (sufficient for temporary use) - £75/month Installation: Self-install (ground mount with sandbag base) Additional Hardware: None required (integrated WiFi)

6-Month Total: £849 (£399 hardware + £450 service) Per-Month Cost: £142

Alternative Cost: Mobile broadband or 4G router - £60-100/month but often unreliable speeds at remote sites

Advantage: Guaranteed performance, reusable hardware for next project

Starlink vs Alternative Solutions: When Does It Make Sense?

Starlink Makes Strong Business Sense When:

✅ Rural/remote location with limited or no fibre infrastructure

✅ Backup/failover requirement independent of terrestrial infrastructure

✅ Temporary locations (construction sites, pop-up offices, event venues)

✅ Mobile connectivity needs (maritime, vehicles, remote field operations)

✅ Quick deployment required (operational in hours, not weeks/months)

✅ Avoiding expensive alternatives (rural leased lines often £400+/month)

Consider Alternatives When:

❌ Dense urban area with reliable gigabit fibre at competitive rates

❌ Latency-critical applications requiring sub-10ms response times

❌ Extremely high bandwidth needs exceeding 500 Mbps consistently

❌ Obstructed site without clear view of northern sky

❌ Budget-only decision and adequate FTTP/cable available under £50/month

Hidden Costs and Considerations

Congestion Charges in High-Demand Areas

Starlink introduced congestion surcharges for certain high-demand regions in the UK, primarily affecting:

• Greater London

• Parts of Southeast England

• Some urban centres during rapid expansion

Impact: Additional £195 one-time charge for Standard Kit purchases in affected postcodes. The £0 hardware option may not be available in these areas.

Check before ordering: Starlink's coverage map indicates whether your location faces congestion charges.

Data Priority Usage Monitoring

Unlike traditional unlimited connections, Starlink's priority data model requires monitoring:

Typical Business Usage Patterns:

• 10-person office, moderate use: 20-40GB priority data/month sufficient

• Video conferencing heavy environment: 60-100GB priority data/month

• Large file transfers regularly: 150GB+ priority data/month

Once priority data is exhausted, throttled speeds (1 Mbps down) limit functionality. Plan appropriately or purchase additional priority data mid-cycle.

Power Consumption

Starlink dishes require continuous power:

• Standard Kit: 75-100W average (£15-20/month electricity cost)

• Mini Kit: 25-40W average (£5-8/month electricity cost)

• High Performance: 110-150W average (£20-30/month electricity cost)

For backup scenarios, consider UPS (uninterruptible power supply) investment to ensure Starlink remains operational during power outages that might affect your primary connection.

Weather Performance

While Starlink operates effectively in most UK weather conditions, heavy snow accumulation or severe storms can temporarily impact performance. The system includes heating elements to melt snow, but sustained severe weather may cause brief interruptions.

Business impact: Minimal for backup scenarios (primary connection likely also affected). For primary connection deployments in harsh climates, factor in 99.5% uptime rather than 99.9%.

Integration with Existing Business IT Infrastructure

Starlink deployment should integrate seamlessly with your existing network architecture, not operate as an isolated internet connection.

Automatic Failover Configuration

For backup deployments, proper failover configuration ensures:

• Automatic detection of primary connection failure

• Seamless switch to Starlink within 30-60 seconds

• Automatic failback when primary connection restores

• No manual intervention required during outages

Implementation requires: Enterprise-grade router with WAN failover capability (£400+) or managed IT service to configure existing infrastructure.

Network Security Considerations

Starlink connections should integrate behind your existing firewall, not bypass security infrastructure:

• Configure Starlink as WAN2 connection through firewall

• Maintain consistent security policies across primary/backup connections

• Implement VPN access if remote workers connect through Starlink

• Monitor both connections through centralized network management

VoIP and UCaaS Performance

Starlink's latency characteristics support business telephony adequately:

• VoIP call quality: Generally excellent (25-50ms latency acceptable)

• Microsoft Teams/Zoom: No issues with standard video conferencing

• Contact centre applications: Suitable for most deployments

Consideration: Minor latency increase vs fibre may be perceptible on international calls but rarely impacts usability.

Get Your Free Starlink Consultation

Understanding whether Starlink aligns with your business requirements and budget doesn't require commitment. We offer free, no-obligation consultations including:

• Site feasibility assessment

• Cost projection with all components

• Performance expectations based on your location

• ROI analysis for backup/failover scenarios

• Integration planning with existing infrastructure

• Alternative solution comparison

As technology infrastructure specialists, we bring expertise beyond simple Starlink installation. We evaluate Starlink within your broader IT infrastructure strategy, considering failover architecture, network security, performance monitoring, and integration with existing systems. We recommend Starlink when it's genuinely the best solution for your requirements, and when it's not, we'll tell you why and suggest alternatives.

Our consultations typically take 30-45 minutes and can be conducted via video call or at your location. We'll provide you with comprehensive information to make an informed decision.