A study by the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) on the performance of the Starlink satellite internet service concludes: Significant Further steps in capacity and coverage make the service a serious addition to the broadband landscape – but the technology still lags behind fiber optics and 5G in many applications.
The study, commissioned by the German Broadband Association (BREKO) and conducted by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kristof Obermann from the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, analyzes current measurement and capacity data, compares latency and throughput parameters, and assesses practical obstacles to widespread deployment. Compared to the preliminary study by THM from 2021, the study confirms a significant increase in network capacity due to the expansion of the Starlink constellation – ultimately aiming for 42,000 satellites. Nevertheless, structural limitations remain.
“Satellite internet is currently not a real competitor to existing fixed-line and mobile technologies, especially fiber optics and 5G,” concludes Prof. Obermann. The study identifies specific reasons: higher latency times of 40 to 50 milliseconds compared to two to ten for fiber optics, the currently high installation costs for end-user equipment, and operational aspects such as energy consumption or regulatory hurdles for direct mobile-to-satellite connections. However, Starlink's monthly costs are comparable to fiber optic offerings.
The study also identifies a clear benefit for rural and hard-to-reach regions: where a fiber optic rollout is uneconomical or a long way off, satellite-based broadband can provide high-performance connections in the short term. The THMresearcher therefore recommends considering Starlink and similar systems as a complementary technology in regional broadband strategies – not as a general replacement solution.
Methodologically, the study relies on measurement series, capacity models, and a comparison with the results obtained by THMin 2021 to estimate changes resulting from fleet expansion and technical optimizations. The complete study is available for download; further information on the preliminary study is documented on the THM website.