Internet at sea: 5G, Satellite, Starlink, which solution to choose?

When we sail at sea, staying connected to the Internet has become a necessity for many people, whether it's for boaters, sailors, or companies operating offshore.

However, connectivity at sea presents unique challenges, with areas where 4G and 5G coverage along the coasts can be limited or even non-existent.

That's why it's essential to explore different solutions for connecting to the Internet in open sea.

In this article, we will examine the advantages, costs, and performance of different solutions to determine which is the best option to ensure reliable and fast connectivity at sea.

Near the coasts: rely on the traditional network

4G and 5G coverage along the French coasts has significantly improved in recent years. Telecom operators have deployed infrastructures to ensure reliable and fast connectivity for land users.

As a reminder, the 4G offers a theoretical maximum speed of 112.5 Mbps. The 4G+, which is an evolution of the 4G network, offers a theoretical maximum speed of 187.5 Mbps, but it can reach up to 300 Mbps or even 500 Mbps. As for 5G, which is the latest generation of mobile internet network, it offers a theoretical maximum speed exceeding 1 Gbps.

However, the range of 4G and 5G signals has its limits. Generally, coverage can extend up to 10 to 15 kilometers from the coasts, depending on various factors such as topography and natural obstacles.

Beyond this distance, signal reception can become weak or even non-existent, making Internet connection via these networks difficult or even impossible.

Open sea solutions

To fill this connectivity gap, different solutions can be considered. 

Directional antennas

A commonly used option is the use of directional antennas to capture signals from land-based relays located on the coast.

These antennas, mounted on the boat, can improve reception, but they generally need to be pointed towards the signal source, which can be restrictive in open sea.

The price of these antennas is extremely variable, ranging from around a hundred euros to 2000 € for the most efficient models. 

Traditional satellites

Another alternative is to use dedicated satellite networks for sea communication. These networks, such as Iridium or Inmarsat, offer global coverage and allow reliable connectivity in areas far from the coasts. However, these solutions can be costly and the connection speeds limited.

Iridium Go 

The Iridium GO hotspot is available for individual purchase for 924 € including VAT. It is also offered in a "marine" pack that includes an external antenna and other accessories for a price of 1380 € including VAT.

There is a prepaid annual subscription option that offers 3000 SMS or 1000 voice minutes or 30,000 units for 870 € excluding VAT. Another option is the "unlimited data" subscription priced at 179 € excluding VAT per month.

However, the Iridium GO only offers a transmission speed of 2.4 kbps (kilobits per second)! In terms of bandwidth and throughput, this translates to 18 KB (kilobytes) per minute or 1 MB (megabyte) per hour.

It's hard to talk about a usable solution for modern internet, as this usage is only relevant for emails. But in case of a problem, you will be perfectly able to communicate with the outside world!

Inmarsat

Inmarsat is also a solution more readily intended for telephony, because in its Standard Plan (Inmarsat Fleet Broadband), the monthly subscription is charged at €480.00 excl. tax, for only 25 MB of data, and billing in increments of 0.02 MB beyond that.

In terms of equipment, the SAILOR Fleet One is sold at the price of €4,990 excl. tax and allows data connectivity up to 100 kbps and voice calls (on a single number).

A costly offer, but the advantage of Inmarsat is that it is available in the vast majority of the planet, thanks to the intervention of 3 satellite networks. 

And Starlink in all this? 

Another more recent and very promising solution for satellite internet connection is the one offered by Starlink, a division of SpaceX, the company of Elon Musk.

Starlink uses a network of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to provide high-speed Internet connectivity, even in remote areas and at sea.

How Starlink works: how does it work?

Starlink connection speed: what speeds? Comparison.

The first tests and feedback are encouraging, with download speeds reaching up to several hundred megabits per second, and the official Starlink site reports internet connection speeds of up to 220 Mbit/s. 

Geographical availability of Starlink: where to sail?

Starlink is available in countries where it has obtained government approval to provide its services.

At the time of writing, here are the areas where you can access the Starlink network from your boat: 

Starlink pricing for boats: how much does it cost?

Source: Starlink (Prices observed as of 21/01/2025)

There are currently three options available for Starlink subscriptions at sea, depending on your data consumption: 

• 50 GB (€239/month) - Sufficient for personal use. 
• 1 TB (€940/month) - Suitable for businesses operating offshore.
• 5 TB (€4713/month) - Recommended for researchers, media, and companies requiring constant internet access. 

Note that you can suspend and reactivate Starlink at any time, with billing done in one-month increments, and the company offers a 30-day free trial for its offer.

In addition to these subscriptions, you must add the cost of the equipment, which is €2389 at the initial purchase for the maritime solution. (See prices on the Starlink site).

This equipment is obviously specially designed for the extreme conditions of the open sea and can withstand wind gusts exceeding 280 km/h.

Furthermore, the Starlink application available on iOS and Android allows you to determine the best installation location on your boat.

Conclusion 

Access to the internet at sea presents unique challenges, as 4G and 5G coverage near the coasts can be limited.

Different options are available, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Directional antennas improve reception but need to be pointed towards the signal source.

Traditional satellite networks offer global coverage but at high costs and with limited connection speeds, more akin to satellite phones than true internet terminals. 

Starlink, with its constellation of low-orbit satellites, promises high-speed connectivity even in the open sea, although its current deployment does not yet cover the entire planet. 

The choice will therefore depend on your needs (emergencies? leisure?), your budget, and the geographical availability (navigation close to the coasts or not, covered by Starlink or not). 

Are you passionate about boating and semi-rigid boats? 

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