A recent study suggests the potential for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Germany is significantly larger than previously estimated. Research conducted by the Technical University of Middle Hesse and reported by “Handelsblatt”, indicates that Starlink’s network could potentially serve up to 13 million German households with download speeds of approximately 100 megabits per second.
According to Kristof Obermann, the study’s author, the network’s capacity has seen substantial growth. The research was commissioned by Breko, a broadband association composed of companies increasingly viewing Starlink as a competitive force.
Starlink is aiming to gain traction in the German market with competitive pricing and expanding coverage. The basic subscription, offering download speeds ranging from 45 to 130 megabits per second, currently costs €29 per month. Data from the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) reveals that roughly 83,000 German households were already utilizing satellite internet by the end of 2024, with the vast majority of those users connected via Starlink.
Starlink particularly presents a viable alternative for rural areas lacking comprehensive fiber optic infrastructure. While fiber optic connections offer substantially higher bandwidth capabilities, satellite internet distinguishes itself with comparatively rapid deployment and availability.
