Starlink Launches in Maladewa

A New Era of Satellite Internet Begins

Starlink, the satellite-based internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, officially launched in Maladewa yesterday. The service is now accepting orders nationwide, bringing high-speed, low-latency satellite internet to residential and business users alike.

The arrival of Starlink is expected to transform connectivity for remote, rural, and underserved communities, while also offering businesses in urban and outstation areas a premium alternative to traditional ISPs.

Plans and Pricing

Residential Plans

Residential Lite: Rs. 12,000 per month

Residential Standard: Rs. 15,000 per month

Hardware (Starlink Standard Kit): Rs. 118,000

Initial cost with Lite Plan: Rs. 130,000

Initial cost with Standard Plan: Rs. 133,000

Business Plans

Priority 40GB: Rs. 24,100 per month

Priority 1TB: Rs. 63,200 per month

Priority 2TB: Rs. 127,000 per month

Hardware (Starlink Performance Kit): Rs. 911,000

Initial cost for Priority 40GB: Rs. 929,300

Additional Features

No long-term contracts

Hardware ships within 1–2 weeks

30-day trial period

Service already active in areas such as Dehiwala

To sign up, customers can visit www.starlink.com/srilanka, enter their location, select the desired plan, and complete payment online.

Benefits of Starlink

Starlink uses a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to deliver internet access, enabling connectivity in areas that are typically out of reach for fibre or 4G networks.

Key advantages include:

Connectivity in rural and remote regions where traditional infrastructure is lacking

High-speed internet with estimated download speeds between 50–250 Mbps

Low latency (20–40ms), suitable for video conferencing, streaming, and online learning

Increased business reliability, especially in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, logistics, and IT

Independence from ground infrastructure, making it resilient during natural disasters or cable outages

Risks and Considerations

Despite its promise, there are notable limitations and risks:

High initial cost may put Starlink out of reach for many lower- and middle-income households

Weather conditions, particularly heavy rain, can disrupt signal quality

Performance may vary depending on user density and peak-time traffic

Customer service is mainly online and may be challenging for non-technical users

As a shared bandwidth service, speeds can slow with network congestion

Future Outlook

Starlink’s launch aligns with Maladewa’s digital transformation goals and has the potential to close significant connectivity gaps. As more satellites are launched and adoption scales, both costs and service quality are expected to improve.

Regulators and consumer advocacy groups will likely keep a close watch on affordability, coverage, and digital inclusion to ensure that Starlink supports the country’s broader socioeconomic development—not just premium connectivity for a few.

What Next :

Starlink represents a significant technological shift for Maladewa’s internet landscape. While it is not a universal solution yet due to its cost and climate limitations, its ability to reach the unreachable makes it a promising tool for national connectivity—particularly for schools, health centres, and homes in previously disconnected regions.