Compare Starlink and MTA Alaska
Both Starlink and MTA Alaska offer reliable internet services, including business and home internet solutions. While Starlink satellite internet services offer a lot to their customer base in terms of availability and options, MTA Alaska stands apart for its reliability, affordability, and fiber internet access.
| MTA | Starlink* | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans Starting From | $69.99/mo | $120/mo |
| Unlimited Plans Starting From | $109.99/mo | $120/mo |
| Support Options How can we help you today? | Local Alaskans available by phone 24/7/365 | Support Ticket System |
| Network Connection How reliable do you want it? | Dedicated Line | Satellite |
| Start Up Cost It's pay-to-play... but at what cost? | $65 | $349 + up to $100 congestion fees |
| Community Investment Where does the money go? |
| ✕ |
While Starlink offers a lot to their customer base, MTA Alaska stands apart for its reliability, affordability, and its locally-based 24/7/365 year support center.
About Starlink
Website: https://www.starlink.com/
Many know Elon Musk’s SpaceX as the company aiming to put people on Mars, but that’s not all this company does. SpaceX’s Starlink internet services for home and business make use of low Earth orbit satellites (satellite constellations) that can connect with even the most rural areas that otherwise couldn’t be reached due to physical obstructions.
At the time of writing, SpaceX Starlink satellite services are available across all of Alaska and Canada, providing low-latency, high-speed internet to traditionally underserved areas.
Starlink Hardware Requirements
Starlink typically requires expensive, self-install startup equipment, which may be cost prohibitive for customers on a tighter budget.
- Starlink recommends that Standard and Roam customers use its Standard Starlink Kit (sometimes referred to as “Dishy”), which costs $499.
- For Boat customers, Starlink recommends its Flat High Performance hardware, which costs $2,500. This hardware requires an unobstructed sky view, so the company recommends downloading its Starlink app to find the best place to set up this hardware.
- Other accessories and hardware that may improve Starlink’s internet services include the Starlink Mini kit, ethernet adapters, cable routing kits, and mesh nodes.
- The Starlink app (available on Android and iOS) allows subscribers to troubleshoot issues, conduct speed tests, and manage connected devices.
Starlink Residential Pricing
For non-business customers, Starlink offers Standard Residential plans for homes that share bandwidth between devices at a fixed location; Roam, which is similar to a mobile hotspot in that it offers services that are not tied to one specific location; and Boat that, as the name suggests, serves people often on boats or ships.
The brand’s pricing for residential services are as follows:
- Standard Residential: $120/month, unlimited data
- Roam (Mobile - Regional): $150/month, unlimited data
- Roam (Mini Roam): $50/month, 50GB data cap
- Boat (Mobile Priority - 50GB ): $250/month, 50GB data cap
- Boat (Mobile Priority - 1TB): $1,000/month, 1TB data cap
- Boat (Mobile Priority - 5TB): $5,000/month, 5TB data cap
Starlink Business Pricing
Starlink offers business owners various options for internet connectivity based on location, much like it does for its residential customers. The company’s pricing for each tier is as follows:
- Fixed Sites: $140/month to $500/month
- Land Mobility: $250/month to $5,000/month
- Maritime: $250/month to $5,000/month
- Aviation: $2,000/month to $10,000/month
- Aviation for Government and Commercial Unlimited: Custom pricing
About MTA Alaska
Website: https://www.mtasolutions.com/
MTA Alaska is dedicated to offering people in Southcentral Alaska - Mat-Su Valley, Eagle River/Chugiak stable internet connections at affordable prices. We offer DSL and fiber optic internet connections with dedicated lines, so rural Alaskans can select the services that make the most sense for their household or business.
MTA Alaska Residential Pricing
Our home internet plans start at just $69.99 a month. Every tier besides our Starter plan offers unlimited internet usage. Customers can customize their package with add-ons like:
- A WiFi router + modem bundle
- Boosted upload speeds
- VPN services
- And much more
MTA Alaska Business Services
In addition to our home internet plans, we also offer a wide range of business internet solutions to help business owners in even the most rural locations get the internet access they need to stay competitive in their industry.
Some of our most popular standard and add-on business solutions include:
- 24/7 local customer support
- Modem/router add-ons
- Cybersecurity features
- Dedicated internet line
- Carrier-grade totalWiFi™
- VoIP/video conferencing
Frequently Asked Questions
Our home internet starter services begin at $69.99 a month. Starlink home internet starter services begin at $120 a month.
MTA Alaska covers Mat-Su Valley, including Chugiak, Eagle River, Palmer and Wasilla. MTA also offers enterprise and business internet services in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
At the time of writing, no, this company does not offer landline home phone services. Starlink is, however, partnering with T-Mobile to deliver cell services to remote locations in the future.
MTA Alaska home phone services start at just $19.99 a month.
The company reports that download speeds are typically between 25 Mbps – 220 Mbps for non-business customers.
Which is better: MTA Alaska or Starlink internet services? The truth is, there is no single-best answer to this question. The answer varies based on factors like coverage area, budget, and what (if any) add-ons you want, like unlimited data, boosted upload speeds, or rapid download speeds.
For a wider coverage area and roaming data plans, Starlink might be worth exploring. For Alaskans looking for fast reliable high speed internet and landline phone services in the Mat-Su Valley and Eagle River/Chugiak with Alaska-based 24/7 customer service, more affordable startup costs, and lower monthly bills, MTA Alaska could be the solution.