Starlink may be preparing for an official launch in Sri Lanka, as the service has updated its pricing for the island. According to its website, a residential Starlink connection will come at LKR 15,000 per month along with an LKR 105,000 hardware cost.
The updated pricing follows just months after Starlink was granted a license to operate in Sri Lanka. Back in August, the TRCSL announced that it had issued a Telecommunications Service Provider license to Starlink to provide satellite broadband services in Sri Lanka. This license issuance was made under the amended Section 17B of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991.
As of now, an exact launch date remains to be announced although Starlink’s availability map indicates a 2025 launch window. The TRCSL itself has stated that the service launch was withheld until the conclusion of the presidential election owing to some pending clearance.
The possibility of Starlink’s presence in Sri Lanka has been in active discussion since TRCSL first announced that it was in early talks with the company in 2021. But it wasn’t until almost three years later that any movement happened, with Starlink receiving preliminary approval by June 2024.
The LKR 15,000 monthly rental offers unlimited data at speeds varying between 25 – 220 Mbps for downloads and 5-25 Mbps for uploads, according to the Starlink website. While Starlink users typically experience speeds over 100 Mbps, time will tell how the speeds will fare in Sri Lanka. The Elon Musk-owned service also comes at a hardware cost of LKR 105,000, more than what the average Sri Lankan would pay for internet in a year.
It’s worth noting that Starlink’s satellite connections are susceptible to adverse weather as well. The company website says moderate to heavy rain “can cause momentary service dropouts”. It will be interesting to see how far Sri Lanka’s weather patterns will impact the service, if at all.
Comparatively, SLT’s Web Champ Fibre Package offers 750 GB data (450 GB free data) for 300 Mbps download speeds and 150 Mbps upload speeds at LKR 15,090. While unlimited internet has yet to be realized in its entirety in Sri Lanka, SLT has made progress in recent years. Most notably, SLT started offering free unlimited data for its home broadband users early this year, though it’s only limited between 12.00 AM – 7.00 AM.
As of now, local service providers like SLT still offer the better RoI, at least for the typical internet consumer. However, the advent of Starlink adds some much-needed competition and choice around internet services in Sri Lanka.
In any case, the recent price update could mean that the service may be months away from an official launch. Starlink is currently available for preorders in Sri Lanka for a $9 refundable deposit.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings