Starlink in Singapore: Your Questions Answered

Singapore is one of the world’s most digitally advanced nations, with strong fiber and 5G networks. Yet, industries such as maritime, offshore energy, and remote operations often face challenges where terrestrial coverage cannot reach. In this blog, we answer the most common questions about Starlink in Singapore and explain how IEC Telecom supports businesses with reliable satellite solutions.

1. Why does Singapore need Starlink if it already has fast internet?

While Singapore has excellent terrestrial connectivity, some environments remain underserved:

• Commercial shipping: As a global maritime hub, Singapore manages one of the most advanced fleets and upholds high crew welfare standards. Starlink Maritime enhances these commitments by ensuring continuous connectivity at sea, supporting seafarers’ well-being while enabling real-time navigation, remote diagnostics, and IoT-driven fleet management across international shipping routes.
• Offshore operations: Oil rigs, construction sites, and exploration projects  require reliable links far from land. Singapore-based companies have shown strong receptiveness to Starlink, with adoption growing rapidly over the past two years compared to neighbouring Asian countries.
• Emergency resilience: Even with world-class fibre infrastructure, Singapore remains vulnerable to disruptions such as undersea cable breaks. Starlink offers a resilient, satellite-based backup network, safeguarding digital continuity for industries, government agencies, and critical services during regional outages.

For these scenarios, Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency broadband that fills the gap where fiber and 5G cannot reach.

2. Is Starlink available in Singapore?

Yes, but with conditions.

• Starlink is officially available under the Business service tier, suitable for enterprises and maritime use.
• Regulatory approval from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is required, including a licence for each terminal (SGD 50 per year).
• Residential plans are not yet available in Singapore.

IEC Telecom ensures all Starlink deployments comply fully with IMDA requirements.

Starlink in Singapore: Understanding B2B Solution

As an authorised reseller, IEC Telecom is uniquely positioned to drive the adoption of next-generation connectivity across diverse sectors of the Singaporean economy. The company delivers comprehensive Starlink-based solutions, enhanced with advanced network management tools, L-band backup, and 24/7 technical support, offered through both the Starlink Maritime and Starlink Land portfolios. Key benefits for B2B customers include:

• Global stock availability and a wide range of terminal options, from the portable Starlink Mini with speeds of up to 100 Mbps to the latest Starlink Performance Kit, delivering download speeds of 400 Mbps+.
• Corporate subscription models covering multiple sites, with the flexibility to channel allowances from inactive sites to active users for optimal utilisation of the corporate credit line.
• User-friendly voucher system to manage welfare connectivity for remote staff.
• Extensive value-added services, including cybersecurity, tracking, push-to-talk (PTT) solutions, and more.
• L-band optimised applications to ensure continuity of business operations even in low-bandwidth environments.

3. How much does Starlink internet cost in Singapore?

To activate Starlink for Business, the following cost factors should be considered:

• Plans differ based on the application: maritime or land.
• Subscriptions are billed monthly and include both the airtime cost and access fee.
• Hardware costs are a one-time purchase.
• An annual IMDA licensing fee of SGD 50 per terminal applies.

IEC Telecom provides customised packages to meet the operational requirements of each customer in both maritime and land sectors.

4. Do you need to pay monthly for Starlink?

Yes. Starlink operates on a monthly subscription model, including the airtime fee (varies based on the plan) and access fee,

The subscription cost is separate from the one-time equipment cost.

IEC Telecom goes one step beyond this by working with companies and offering different subscription models, suitable for crewing and payroll departments.

5. What Performance you can expect from starlink business plan?

IEC Telecom offers a wide range of business plans, intended for maritime (Global Priority) and fixed (Local Priority) use. Key performance indicators:

• Service availability: ≥99%
• Priority airtime allocation
• Download: 40-400+ Mbps (depending on the terminal of choice)
• Upload: 8-15 Mbps
• Latency: 26-60 ms for maritime terminals and < 99 ms for and terminals

6. Does Starlink offer unlimited data?

Yes, Starlink offers unlimited data with no hard caps, but this option is reserved exclusively for merchant fleets. IEC Telecom can advise companies on the qualification criteria and guide them through the onboarding process to access these unlimited maritime plans.

For all other use cases, Singapore customers can benefit from Starlink Priority plans. Under this model, connectivity never fully stops, even after the allocated Priority data is consumed. Thanks to the Fair Use Policy, the service automatically continues at reduced speeds of up to 1 Mbps download and 0.5 Mbps upload. This ensures service continuity for critical applications, safeguarding business operations and supporting essential digital processes.

IEC Telecom helps clients choose the best plan for their bandwidth needs. For vessels, this means balancing crew welfare with cost control, ensuring seafarers enjoy reliable connectivity without straining operational budgets.

7. How do you install Starlink in Singapore?

Starlink kits are designed for easy setup:

• Includes a dish, Wi-Fi router, and mounting equipment.
• Requires a clear view of the sky.
• Plug-and-play for most land-based scenarios.

For maritime and enterprise installations, IEC Telecom provides professional integration with onboard or on-site networks to guarantee performance, security, and regulatory compliance.

8. Why does IEC Telecom recommend OptiView with Starlink?

For enterprise-grade Starlink solutions, robust control mechanisms are essential to ensure efficient data allocation, effective credit management, and strong cybersecurity. With OptiView, IT managers gain full visibility over their satcom links and access to a comprehensive set of tools designed to maximise performance per Mb. Starlink solutions by IEC Telecom allow to:

• Monitor bandwidth usage in real time.
• Allocate traffic by priority, user, or application.
• Segregate multiple operational environments
• Apply cybersecurity measures for safer operations.
•  Apply different usage protocols to corporate and welfare environment

OptiView ensures that businesses get the most out of Starlink, especially in maritime and remote environments where connectivity is mission-critical.

9. Can businesses in Singapore use Starlink on land?

Yes. Businesses operating in remote or temporary sites can benefit greatly. For example:

• Remote construction projects with no access to fibre.
• Disaster recovery efforts, and emergency response operations.
• Events requiring temporary high-speed connectivity.

IEC Telecom offers a wide range of Starlink-based land solutions: from compact packages for SMEs to enterprise-grade systems with advanced voucher management, enabling secure and cost-efficient connectivity for remote personnel.

10. What are the benefits of Starlink for emergency response in Singapore?

Starlink terminals can be deployed within minutes, providing instant broadband when traditional networks fail. This is particularly important during:

• Undersea cable outages.
• Disaster recovery operations (floods, earthquake etc)

11. Can vessels in Singapore waters use Starlink?

Yes, but they must hold an IMDA-issued licence. Starlink Maritime is approved for vessels transiting Singapore and operating offshore.

12. How does Starlink improve crew welfare at sea?

With high-speed, low-latency connections, crews can:

• Stay connected with family via video calls.
• Access online training and entertainment.
• Maintain better mental health during long voyages.

This directly supports crew retention and productivity.

13. What are the new opportunities with Starlink?

With the advent of Starlink, IEC Telecom recognises that a new horizon of opportunities has opened for enterprises. Organisations are increasingly harnessing high-speed satellite connectivity to unlock software and cloud-based solutions that advance their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives. These efforts often focus on enhancing crew welfare and strengthening governance, while upholding a firm commitment to environmental responsibility.

14. Can shipowners integrate Starlink with existing VSAT systems?

Yes. IEC Telecom provides hybrid connectivity solutions, combining Starlink with VSAT to ensure:

• Always-on redundancy.
• Smarter bandwidth allocation (via OptiView).
• Business continuity in all conditions.

15. What’s the cost advantage of Starlink for shipping companies?

Compared to traditional VSAT-only setups, Starlink:

• Offers cost-effective hardware with airtime plans on par with GSM.
• Provides more affordable data for crew services.
• Enables modern applications like real-time monitoring and IoT at sea.

16. What does the future of Starlink in Singapore look like?

As low-Earth orbit satellite constellations continue to expand, Singapore’s position as both a global maritime hub and a digital innovation leader makes it an ideal market for Starlink adoption.

Singaporean companies are highly receptive to new technologies, in line with the Government’s push for digitalisation and sustainability. This creates strong opportunities for Starlink to complement existing terrestrial infrastructure.

Starlink’s availability supports the digital economy by optimising logistics, whether at sea or on land, helping to reduce fuel consumption from redundant trips. It also advances ESG initiatives, improving the welfare of remote staff by enabling connectivity for personal use.

With Starlink delivering speed and flexibility, and IEC Telecom enhancing it with value-added solutions like OptiView, organisations in Singapore are set to enter a new era of resilient, secure, and high-performance connectivity.

At IEC Telecom, we are committed to supporting Singapore’s digitalisation journey. With Starlink and OptiView, we help organisations stay connected, secure, and ready for the future.