Internet at sea: 5G, Satellite, Starlink, which solution to choose?
When we're sailing at sea, staying connected to the Internet has become a necessity for many people, whether they're yachtsmen, sailors or businesses operating on the high seas.
However, connectivity at sea presents unique challenges, with areas where 4G and 5G coverage along the coast may be limited or non-existent.
That's why it's essential to explore different solutions for connecting to the Internet on the open sea.
In this article, we'll look at the benefits, costs and performance of different solutions to determine which is the best option for ensuring fast, reliable connectivity at sea.
Near the coast: rely on the traditional network
4G and 5G coverage along the French coast has improved considerably in recent years. Telecom operators have deployed infrastructures to ensure fast, reliable connectivity for terrestrial users.
As a reminder, thea 4G offers a theoretical maximum throughput of 112.5 Mbps. The 4G+, which is an evolution of the 4G network, offers a theoretical maximum throughput of 187.5 Mbps, but it can reach up to 300 Mbps or even 500 Mbps. As for 5G, which is the latest generation of mobile internet network, it offers a theoretical maximum throughput exceeding 1 Gbps.
However, the range of 4G and 5G signals has its limits. In general, coverage can extend up to 10 to 15 kilometers from the coast, depending on various factors such as topography and natural obstacles.
Beyond this distance, signal reception can become weak or non-existent, making it difficult or impossible to connect to the Internet via these networks.
Open-ocean solutions
To fill this connectivity gap, various solutions can be considered.
Directional antennas
A commonly used option is the use of directional antennas to pick up signals from terrestrial relays located on the coast.
These boat-mounted antennas can improve reception, but they generally need to be pointed at the signal source, which can be restrictive in open sea.
The price of these antennas is extremely variable, ranging from around a hundred euros to €2,000 for the highest-performance models.
Traditional satellites
Another alternative is to use satellite networks dedicated to communication at sea. These networks, such as Iridium and Inmarsat, offer global coverage and reliable connectivity in remote coastal areas. However, these solutions can be costly and connection speeds limited.
Iridium Go
The Iridium GO hotspot is available for individual purchase for 924 € incl. VAT. It is also offered in a "marine" pack that includes an external antenna and other accessories for a price of 1380 € incl. VAT.
There's a prepaid annual subscription option that offers 3,000 SMS or 1,000 voice minutes or 30,000 units for €870 excluding VAT. Another option is the "unlimited data" subscription priced at 179 € ex VAT per month.
However, the'Iridium GO only offers a transmission speed of 2.4 kbps (kilobits per second)! In terms of bandwidth and throughput, this translates into 18 kb (kilobytes) per minute or 1 MB (megabyte) per hour.
It's hard to talk about a usable solution for the modern Internet, as this usage is only relevant for emails. But in the event of a problem, you'll be perfectly capable of communicating with the outside world!
Inmarsat
Inmarsat, too, is a solution more readily aimed at telephony, as in its Standard Plan (Inmarsat Fleet Broadband), the monthly subscription is charged €480.00 ex VAT, for just 25 MB of data, and billing per 0.02 MB increments beyond that.
In terms of equipment, the SAILOR Fleet One is priced at 4,990 € HT and provides data connectivity up to 100 kbps and voice calls (on a single number).
So an expensive offer, but Inmarsat's advantage is that it's available in the vast majority of the planet, thanks to the intervention of 3 satellite networks.
And Starlink in all this?
Another more recent and very promising solution for satellite internet connection is that offered by Starlink, a division of SpaceX, Elon Musk's company.
Starlink uses a network of thousands of low-orbit satellites to provide high-speed Internet connectivity, even in remote areas and on the open sea.
Starlink operation: how it works
Starlink uses a constellation of orbiting satellites, currently consisting of around 3,000 satellites.
By 2025, SpaceX plans to have around 12,000 in service.
These satellites exchange data via laser links, providing a quality connection with low latency.
Satellites transmit data to various base stations, which then relay it to end users via satellite dishes.
Starlink connection speed: what data rates? Comparison.
Early tests and feedback are encouraging, with download speeds of up to several hundred megabits per second, and the official Starlink website reports internet connections of up to 220 Mbps.
| Upflow | Downflow | Latency time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geostationary satellite | between 2 and 8 Mbit/s | between 10 and 100 Mbit/s | 600 millisecondes |
| ADSL | 1 Mbit/s | 20 Mbit/s | between 40 and 80 milliseconds |
| VDSL 2 | 8 Mbit/s | 100 Mbit/s | 25 milliseconds |
| 4G | 8 Mbps | between 50 and 100 Mbps | 40 milliseconds |
| Optical fiber | 1 Gbit/s | 1 Gbit/s | 10 milliseconds |
| Starlink | 8 to 25 Mbps | between 40 and 220 Mbps | less than 99 milliseconds |
Geographical availability of Starlink: where to sail
Starlink is available in countries where it has obtained government approval to provide its services.
At the time of writing, here are the areas where you can access the Starlink network from your boat:
| États-Unis | Barbade |
| Canada | Bulgarie |
| Australie | Croatie |
| Nouvelle-Zélande | Tchéquie |
| Royaume-Uni | Danemark |
| Allemagne | Estonie |
| Italy | Finlande |
| Chile | French Guiana |
| Pologne | Guadeloupe |
| Switzerland | Guernesey |
| Autriche | Mayotte |
| Belgique | Portugal |
| Porto Rico | Saint-Barthélemy |
| Norvège | Slovaquie |
| France | Sweden |
| Slovénie | Islande |
| Pays-Bas | Irlande |
| Dominican Republic | Isle of Man |
| Jersey | Lettonie |
| Lituanie | Luxembourg |
| Macédoine | Malta |
| Martinique | Philippines |
| Roumanie | Saint-Martin |
| U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) | Panama |
| Brazil |
Starlink pricing for boats: how much does it cost?
There are currently three options available for Starlink subscriptions at sea, depending on your data consumption:
- 50 GB (€287/month) - Sufficient for particular use.
- 1 TB (€1128/month) - Suitable for companies working offshore.
- 5 TB (€5656/month) - Recommended for researchers, media and businesses requiring constant Internet access.
Note that you can suspend and reactivate Starlink at any time, with billing taking place in one-month increments, and that the company offers a 30-day free trial for its offer.
To these subscriptions must be added the cost of the equipment, which is €2867 at initial purchase for the maritime solution. (See prices on Starlink website).
This equipment is obviously designed specifically for the extreme conditions of the open sea, and can withstand wind gusts in excess of 280 km/h.
Also, the Starlink app available on iOS and Android lets you determine the best installation location on your boat.
Conclusion
Internet access at sea presents unique challenges, as 4G and 5G coverage near the coast can be limited.
Different options are available, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
Directional antennas improve reception, but need to be pointed towards the signal source.
Traditional satellite networks offer worldwide coverage but at high cost and with limited connection speeds, corresponding more to satellite phones than true Internet terminals.
Starlink, with its constellation of low-orbit satellites, promises high-speed connectivity even on the open seas, even if its current deployment doesn't yet cover the whole planet.
The choice will therefore depend on your needs (emergencies? leisure?), your budget, and geographical availability (sailing close to the coast or not, covered by Starlink or not).
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