
IPFS News Link • Communications
Starlink versus Viasat Airplane Communication Services
• Next Big Future - Brian WangThe feature comparison of Starlink vs Viasat for passenger aircraft service is:
Bandwidth Speed
Viasat:
Viasat's latest generation (ViaSat-3) offers speeds up to 100+ Mbps per aircraft
Previous generations typically provided 12-30 Mbps per aircraft
Starlink:
Starlink promises download speeds of 40-220 Mbps per terminal
Upload speeds of 8-25 Mbps per terminal
Starlink appears to offer potentially higher peak speeds, though real-world performance may vary.
Key Features
Viasat:
Global coverage with geostationary satellites
Established provider with long-standing airline partnerships
Offers streaming capabilities for video and audio
Starlink:
Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for lower latency
Gate-to-gate connectivity (usable during all phases of flight)
Promises to enable live TV, gaming, and video calls
Free service for passengers on airlines like United.