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At Onwave, we know choosing the right connectivity solution for your business can sometimes feel overwhelming. With satellite internet, fibre broadband and cellular networks all vying for your attention, how do you know which one will actually deliver for your business?
Do you prioritise speed, reliability or flexibility? Or does your business combine several connectivity technologies to ensure you can continue to operate should your primary service experience any issues?
We’ve seen first-hand how the right and wrong connectivity choices can affect a business. Whether you’re running operations from a city centre office, managing remote construction sites, or coordinating teams across multiple locations, the connection you choose directly impacts productivity, communication and your bottom line.
Every business is now looking for fast, reliable, secure internet connectivity. The question is how do you choose the best option? We have compared three popular connectivity solutions – Starlink satellite internet, traditional fibre and 4G/5G mobile broadband – for businesses operating across multiple sectors.
Coverage: Where can you get connected?
Location flexibility is often the deciding factor for businesses operating beyond traditional office environments.
Starlink offers global coverage with one simple requirement: a clear view of the sky. This makes it ideal for remote sites, rural locations and anywhere traditional infrastructure hasn’t reached. From construction sites in the countryside to maritime vessels, Starlink connects you wherever your work takes you.
Fibre broadband provides excellent connectivity, but only where the infrastructure exists. If your premises aren’t in a fibre-enabled area, you’re looking at potentially lengthy waits for installation or no availability at all.
4G/5G cellular coverage continues to expand, particularly with 5G rollout, though rural and semi-remote areas often remain underserved. Signal strength varies significantly depending on your location and proximity to cell towers.
Speed: How fast do you need to go?
Upload and Download speeds determine how quickly your team can access files, join video calls and use cloud-based applications.
Starlink Priority Local currently delivers 200-400 Mbps download speeds and 20-50 Mbps upload speeds, with performance varying by location and network demand. Looking ahead, Starlink’s V3 satellite constellation launching this year (2026) will deliver download speeds up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 200 Mbps, putting it on par with premium fibre connections.
Fibre remains the speed champion, offering synchronous speeds of 300 Mbps to 10 Gbps depending on your subscription level and local infrastructure. For businesses with heavy bandwidth requirements, fibre delivers consistent, high-capacity connections.
4G/5G speeds range from 15-50 Mbps download and 5-10 Mbps upload on 4G networks, 5G networks offer speeds of 50-200 Mbps download and 20-30 Mbps upload. However, these figures depend heavily on signal strength, network congestion and your geographical location.
Latency: The hidden factor in real-time performance
While speed grabs headlines, latency (the time it takes for something you do, like clicking a link or sending a command to get a response) often determines how smooth your video calls feel and how responsive your cloud applications are. Lower latency means faster interactions.
Fibre leads with less than 10ms latency, making it ideal for video conferencing, VoIP and latency-sensitive cloud applications.
Starlink delivers 20-50ms latency, which handles most real-time business tasks comfortably, though it’s slightly higher than fibre.
4G/5G typically runs at 30-70ms but can increase during local congestion. This makes it suitable for most applications that aren’t latency-sensitive, though performance can be unpredictable.
Reliability: Which connection can you count on?
Downtime costs money. Reliable connectivity keeps your operations running smoothly and your teams productive.
Starlink achieves 99.9% uptime, powered by a network of over 10,000 satellites and ground stations. This redundancy means consistent connectivity even in challenging conditions.
Fibre also delivers 99.9% or higher uptime with stable infrastructure that’s less affected by weather conditions.
4G/5G reliability varies depending on signal strength in your area. While it works well in strong coverage zones, speeds and reliability can be inconsistent in weaker signal areas.
Installation Time: How quickly can you get connected?
Time is money, and waiting months for connectivity can delay projects and impact revenue.
Starlink and 4G/5G both offer rapid deployment. With Onwave, our engineers can have you up and running in just 3 days for either solution.
Fibre installation typically takes 3-6 months depending on local infrastructure and whether new cabling is required. This makes it less suitable for time-sensitive projects or temporary sites.
Mobility: Connectivity that moves with you
For businesses with mobile operations or temporary sites, flexibility matters as much as performance.
Starlink excels in mobility. It’s perfect for short-term projects, remote sites, vehicles, vessels and rapid team deployment. Pack it up and take your connection with you.
4G/5G offers good mobility and works well for on-the-go connectivity in urban and semi-remote areas where cell coverage is strong.
Fibre is best suited for fixed locations and long-term deployments such as permanent offices or projects lasting 12 months or more.
Making the right choice for your business
The best connectivity solution depends on your specific circumstances. Consider these scenarios:
Choose Starlink if you need coverage in remote locations, fast installation, mobility between sites, or a reliable backup connection. It’s particularly valuable for construction, utilities, rail, maritime and other industries operating beyond traditional infrastructure.
Choose Fibre if you’re in a permanent location with fibre availability, need maximum speeds and lowest latency, and can accommodate longer installation timelines.
Choose 4G/5G if you need flexible connectivity in urban areas with strong coverage, quick deployment, and moderate speed requirements.
Let Onwave help you choose
At Onwave, we understand that choosing connectivity can be tough. That’s why we work with you to find the right solution for your business, whether that’s Starlink, fibre, 4G/5G, or a combination of technologies working together.
As an authorized Starlink reseller and specialist in business connectivity, we’ve helped organisations across rail, construction, aviation, highways, utilities and maritime get connected and stay connected.
Ready to find your ideal connectivity solution? Contact our team today to discuss your requirements.
