Introduction
For rural remote workers, the choice often comes down to two options: if you're lucky enough to have fiber, or Starlink satellite internet. Let's break down the pros and cons of each.
Fiber Internet
Pros
✅ Fastest speeds - Up to 1 Gbps symmetric
✅ Lowest latency - 5-20ms typical
✅ Most reliable - Not affected by weather
✅ Best for video calls - Crystal clear quality
✅ Often cheaper - $50-80/month
Cons
❌ Limited availability - Only 40% of rural areas
❌ Installation time - Can take weeks
❌ Property requirements - May need easements
Starlink
Pros
✅ Available almost everywhere
✅ Fast installation - Self-install kit
✅ Decent speeds - 100-250 Mbps
✅ Improving constantly - Regular updates
Cons
❌ Higher latency - 25-60ms
❌ Weather sensitive - Rain and snow affect signal
❌ Expensive - $120/month + $599 equipment
❌ Data prioritization - Heavy users may be throttled
Our Recommendation
If fiber is available, choose fiber. The reliability and low latency are worth it for remote work.
If fiber isn't available, Starlink is a solid choice. It's transformed rural connectivity and continues to improve.
Best strategy: Use Starlink as your primary connection and keep a cellular hotspot for backup during outages.
Browse our county database to find areas with fiber availability.