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Fiber Broadband in the Age of Starlink

Sandra Alexa
A satellite with large solar panels orbits in space, showcasing the dynamic visual impression of advanced communication technology. Abstract light patterns and bokeh effects symbolize the rapid data transfer of fiber broadband akin to a network bridging vast distances.

The internet landscape continues to evolve in 2025, with Starlink and fiber internet emerging as two prominent solutions for high-speed connectivity. Both technologies offer unique benefits and are poised for significant growth in the coming year.

Fiber Broadband Expansion

As 2024 comes to a close, the Fiber Broadband Association reports its best year in the association’s history. The industry set a record in fiber deployment, passing 10.3 million homes in 2024, surpassing the 2023 record deployment of 9.1 million homes. There are now 76.5 million unique U.S. homes passed with fiber, with 88.1 million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections, including homes with more than one fiber passing. More locally, Trailblazer Broadband surpassed 4,000 customers in its service area in and around Estes Park. 

Fiber internet remains the gold standard for speed and reliability. Fiber optic networks offer unparalleled performance, with speeds reaching up to 10 Gbps in some areas. Fiber boasts ultra-low latency of 1-5 ms, making it ideal for real-time applications like online gaming and video conferencing. The technology’s reliability is unmatched, with underground cables resistant to interference from weather conditions and physical obstacles.

Starlink Progress

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, has made remarkable strides since its inception. Currently, Starlink provides average speeds of up to 220 Mbps, with promises of reaching 1 Gbps once its satellite constellation is complete. Its primary advantage lies in its broad coverage, particularly in rural and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is lacking. Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites have significantly reduced latency compared to traditional satellite internet, averaging around 20-40 milliseconds.

Here are some key findings about the pros and cons of LEO satellites primarily based on Starlink, which currently has the largest constellation of these satellites.  

Starlink is an exciting and much-needed addition to rural internet’s long-limited landscape. Although service is slower and more expensive than many other providers and connection types, LEO satellites are a complementary alternative broadband technology, that are ideal to serve remote, hard to reach, low-density housing locations, and/or for quick service restoration where physical infrastructure has been destroyed due to natural disasters. 

Performance Comparison

Fiber internet consistently outperforms Starlink in terms of speed, latency, and reliability. While Starlink has made significant improvements, it still falls short of fiber’s capabilities.

Aspect Starlink Fiber
Download Speed 50-250 Mbps Up to 10 Gbps
Upload Speed 10-50 Mbps Up to 10 Gbps
Latency 20-40 ms 1-5 ms

 

Further, Starlink customers expect to pay $120 a month for fixed home internet service offering around 220 Mbps (compared to around $60 – $80 per month for 1000 Mbps from fiber providers like Trailblazer), plus $349, give or take a hundred bucks, for the equipment needed to get started. Starlink is also imposing a one-time $100 congestion charge in some areas. 

The preference for fiber within the state broadband offices remains clear. Just recently, Doug Adams issued a State Broadband Director survey, which received responses from 31 states. The state directors remain very bullish on fiber, with verbatim comments including: 

Future Growth and Expectations

In the coming year, both Starlink and fiber internet are expected to see substantial growth and improvements:

Starlink

Fiber Internet

Environmental Considerations

An important factor to consider is the environmental impact of these technologies. Fiber optic internet is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Deploying fiber can reduce carbon emissions by 34%, equivalent to taking 11 million cars off the road annually combined with increased remote work.

The Local Estes Park Landscape

Trailblazer Broadband began it’s fiber network development over 5 years ago ahead of most municipalities and long before many other BEAD grant funds were available. Along with Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins, Estes Park had the vision to begin the fiber journey early and as a result, has already significantly enhanced the internet landscape in greater Estes Park, putting our town ahead of the game.  

Comparatively, across the US, since January 2021, at least 47 new municipal networks have come online, bringing the total number of community-owned networks in the U.S. to approximately 447, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). 

To complete the Trailblazer Broadband fiber network, the Town of Estes Park is seeking BEAD grant funding to address the fiber needs of the more remote regions of the Estes Park Power and Communications areas.  Nationwide, many other municipalities and providers are also seeking a portion of the BEAD funding.  As technology progresses and investment increases, the landscape of rural broadband connectivity will continue to evolve, bringing new opportunities for enhancing internet access in underserved communities.

Conclusion

While Starlink offers a promising solution for areas lacking traditional infrastructure, fiber internet remains superior in speed, reliability, and latency. As we move through 2025 and beyond, both technologies will continue to evolve and play crucial roles in global connectivity. Fiber will likely dominate in urban and suburban areas, while Starlink will be instrumental in providing high-speed internet to remote regions. The choice between the two will depend on location, availability, and specific user needs.

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