Starlink’s satellite internet service is now available in Israel, according to the Communications Ministry. The company has opened the option to join the service through direct registration on its website and has started providing a basic service that includes setting up fixed stations for internet connection in households and public buildings throughout the country.
This move comes after the Communications Ministry granted Starlink the required license in 2024, and after the necessary coordination with the company was completed. This is the first phase of the deployment of the company’s advanced satellite internet services in Israel, as part of a growing global trend to connect remote areas to the internet.
Starlink’s satellite internet service is based on a constellation of thousands of small satellites launched into space by SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk. The satellites orbit at relatively low altitudes around the Earth, enabling high-speed internet connection even in areas without fiber optic or copper cable infrastructure. Starlink currently operates in over 70 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Australia, European countries, and South America.
The system includes a unique antenna installed on the customer’s roof or yard, which connects to Starlink’s satellite network. Through the antenna, a direct connection is transmitted to a modem and router inside the building, allowing wireless or wired browsing at high speeds.
According to the company’s data, download speeds for the service in Israel are expected to range from 150 to 250 megabits per second, while upload speeds will reach 10 to 20 megabits per second. Latency is between 20 to 40 milliseconds, a relatively impressive figure for satellite-based technology.
Satellite internet is especially suitable for remote areas, isolated settlements, open spaces without infrastructure, emergency institutions, and private or business customers seeking backup for their existing internet network. The service is also expected to serve as a temporary or permanent solution in emergency cases where communication infrastructure is damaged, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or missile attacks that disrupt communication.
Although this is an innovative solution, the service cost is relatively high: The basic connection kit including the antenna and related equipment costs about NIS 2,000, and the monthly subscription fees currently stand at around NIS 400 depending on the chosen plan. The service is currently in a pilot phase and will gradually expand according to demand.