ISP in Malaysia is great, as long as you live in areas where it’s accessible and easily available – and currently there are a lot of options to choose from: Time, Unifi, Maxis, CelcomDigi – just to name a few. However, there are moments when the internet can get completely interrupted or be unavailable in areas where you need it. That’s where the Starlink steps in and does its thing – and here’s what we have to share about it in this content.
Starlink Experience Quick Review
At the moment, here in Malaysia, Starlink has one satellite hardware available and the Starlink Mini is said to be available on a later date. That said, this big satellite isn’t the most convenient thing to bring around, but you can if you need to. In our case, we had to – because we needed a proper space to test it out.
The Starlink Standard Kit – which is what we have here – is meant for high-demand everyday internet use cases. And it can cover about 3200 sq.ft, could handle extreme weather, environment and gets you up and running in no time. It has a router which can also be used as the WiFi hub and should you require a mesh to connect or expand the range, it’s possible too.
Setting it Up
While we may not have the most ideal setup experience possible, as this is a review sample provided by VSTECS, the official distributor in Malaysia for the Starlink, we still had to do a little bit of tinkering. For starters, we only received the Satellite, a CAT 6 cable, which is pretty long, which then connects to the Router/Hub, which then connects to the main plug point for power.
Once that’s done, you need to download the Starlink app to set it up and get it up and running – in our case, we just had to log in to the app, find the SSID and enter the password and voila.
Since it is a satellite-based internet service, you need to position and align the satellite in the right direction to get the optimal reception. Now, we had to do this manually as the stand wasn’t provided, which helps you automatically align as the Earth rotates. But apart from that, the setup was sorted and we were up and running.
There are some really good easter eggs in the Starlink Device, which I personally enjoyed, and you can check out those images below.
Experience
Let’s talk about the experience – after all, internet connectivity is what you are signing up for. We ran Speedtest on our phone to see how steady it is, and it’s safe to say that the Starlink has the potential to give speeds reaching close to 400Mbps right in the heart of KL, specifically where we were situated, with zero cell reception and connection. So, personally, I was able to connect my friends to a proper internet connection they could rely on, and it made a world of difference.
Apart from communication, I used my laptop to get some work done, and I pretty much relied on more productivity-centric tasks than for leisure, such as gaming. Now this is where it gets clunky due to the lack of an auto-rotatable/aligning stand, which would automatically reposition itself to the satellite.
Unfortunately, every few hours, the app will notify you that it isn’t in the right alignment because our earth is rotating, ergo, the geolocation changes – so, I would have to adjust it from time to time – manually. So, purchase the stand along with the satellite while you are at it, seriously.
Apart from that, there are moments when the connection does drop, which is normal as obstruction can happen temporarily out in the stratosphere. Despite all of these minor inconveniences, the Starlink was able to put up a great show and keep us connected and at least, I was happy to say that it kept me connected to my loved ones via social media and communication apps.
We didn’t roam a lot with it because, in order for us to do that, we would require a dedicated portable power station, like a Jackery Power Station, for instance, which we didn’t have access to. And the Volvo EX30 we were reviewing at the time didn’t have an outlet for us to connect and use the Satellite efficiently. So, we won’t be addressing the Roam experience much at all.
Here’s What We Feel
In rural areas where internet connection is spotty and/or non-existent, to an extent where students or working-class people have issues accessing the internet for their studies and work is where this device truly shines.
But it also brings up the entire conversation of affordability. In KL, the RM 1600 adoption cost for the Satellite may not seem much, because if you think about getting a state-of-the-art router and the fastest internet plan via fibre optic, it will cost more than this would.
However, the entire conversation changes when you install in rural areas, because, factoring in the GRDP, RM 1600 is a lot of money for states further away from Selangor, for instance. Once you add the subscription plan for the internet, which is about RM 220 for Residential unlimited, or you can pay the same amount for Roam and get 50GB Data or pay RM 425 for unlimited roam data.
Emphasis on the fact that all of these rates are on a per-month subscription basis. This is where things do get complicated, and this device feels like a luxury than a necessity. And a big reason why data plans and smartphones tend to be the best option for many, although we know it’s not quite the best option, but more like an affordable option.
What could be better?
For starters, the adoption of Starlink, while it is priced appropriately for the urban areas, does require a lot of education on how it works, and it would be nice to have a pricing structure that varies according to the location, where the adoption cost becomes a major concern. Getting the RM 220 per month subscription with RM 1,600 for the satellite is pretty worth it. I do wish that there were a satellite leasing program for those who want to keep the cost low.
If you think of it as spending on a good router, which is a one-off payment and an internet subscription which essentially costs as much as fibre, but you have a more reliable network.
If you are getting it for the roaming ability, then investing in a portable power station will increase the cost, but it would be very well worth the money; however, do factor in all of that before you pull the trigger, as it can be expensive. There isn’t one right way to use the Starlink, but there are plenty of ways to go about it. So, see and evaluate your needs carefully to see if this is what you are looking for.
Conclusion
The Starlink Satellite internet has the potential to bridge the gap to the virtual world, where it’s becoming more and more of a necessity in this modern and digital era we live in. I am happy that this product exists and could really change the entire trajectory in every country and area possible. However, just launching the service without the necessary marketing or push that’s needed to make an impact in different places is no different from not having it entirely. So, I do hope to see some push in making the right kind of impact.
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