Choosing the right internet connection can become surprisingly complicated. Fibre, mobile broadband, Starlink, portable WiFi, routers and mesh systems can all solve different problems, and the best option depends heavily on where and how you need to get connected.

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APN Connect helps homeowners, businesses, landlords, builders and travellers understand those choices. Below are answers to some of the questions we are asked most often.

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What Is APN Connect?

 

APN Connect is an independent connectivity website operated by APN Home Limited.

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We provide practical information about:

• Starlink

• Fibre broadband

• 4G and 5G internet

• Home and business WiFi

• Portable internet

• VoIP

• Backup connectivity

• Rural internet

• Temporary site internet

• Gaming and streaming

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Our aim is to help people identify the most practical connection for their particular home, business, property or situation.

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Is APN Connect Part of Starlink?

 

No.

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APN Connect is independent and is not owned by or affiliated with Starlink, SpaceX or Elon Musk.

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We cover Starlink extensively because we use it ourselves and believe it can provide an excellent solution in many situations where conventional connectivity is poor, unavailable or inconvenient.

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What Is Starlink?

 

Starlink is a satellite internet service operated by SpaceX.

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Instead of relying entirely on a telephone line, fibre cable or nearby mobile mast, Starlink communicates with satellites using dedicated Starlink equipment installed at the user's location.

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That makes it particularly interesting for rural properties, temporary sites, travellers and locations where traditional broadband options are limited.

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Is Starlink Better Than Fibre Broadband?

 

Not automatically.

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Where fast and reliable full fibre is already available, fibre can be an excellent primary connection.

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Starlink becomes particularly attractive where:

• Fibre is unavailable

• Existing broadband is slow

• Installation would take too long

• The location is remote

• Mobile coverage is poor

• The connection needs to move

• A separate backup connection is required

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The right answer depends on the location and intended use.

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Is Starlink Good for Rural Homes?

 

Yes, rural connectivity is one of the strongest reasons to consider Starlink.

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Many rural properties suffer from slow fixed broadband or unreliable mobile coverage.

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Because Starlink does not depend on the nearest street cabinet or mobile mast, it can provide another route to the internet where conventional options struggle.

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A suitable view of the sky is important.

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Can Starlink Be Used at Home?

 

Yes.

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Starlink can provide everyday home internet for activities such as:

• Web browsing

• Working from home

• Video calls

• Streaming

• Gaming

• Smart televisions

• Smartphones

• Cloud services

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We use Starlink ourselves for normal home internet, including streaming and gaming.

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Is Starlink Good for Gaming?

 

It can be.

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Gaming depends on more than download speed. Latency, stability, jitter and packet loss also matter.

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Where excellent fibre is available, fibre may remain preferable for highly competitive gaming.

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Where the alternative is very slow or unreliable broadband, however, Starlink can provide a significantly better gaming connection.

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Can You Stream Netflix and Television Using Starlink?

 

Yes.

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A suitable Starlink connection can support normal streaming services and multiple connected devices.

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Actual performance depends on the connection, service conditions and how many people are using the internet at the same time.

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Can Several People Use Starlink at Once?

 

Yes.

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As with any broadband service, overall performance depends on how heavily the connection is being used.

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This becomes particularly important in busy households and HMOs where several people may be streaming, gaming, working or downloading simultaneously.

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Can Starlink Be Used in an HMO?

 

Yes, where Starlink is suitable for the property.

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The incoming internet connection is only part of the solution, however.

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An HMO may also need properly designed WiFi, access points or Ethernet so that the connection reaches bedrooms and communal areas reliably.

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Can Landlords Provide Starlink to Tenants?

 

Potentially, yes.

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Starlink may be useful for rented homes and HMOs where traditional broadband options are poor.

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Landlords should consider the service arrangement, equipment ownership, WiFi coverage and how the internet will be managed between tenancies.

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Can Businesses Use Starlink?

 

Yes.

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Starlink can be particularly useful for:

• Rural businesses

• Farms

• Remote offices

• Construction sites

• Temporary premises

• Businesses waiting for fibre

• Backup internet

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It can be used either as a primary connection where conventional broadband is poor or as an additional connection for resilience.

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Can Starlink Be Used as Backup Business Internet?

 

Yes.

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This is one of the applications we particularly like.

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A business might use fibre as its main connection and Starlink as an independent secondary route to the internet.

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This can be valuable where internet failure would interrupt:

• VoIP phones

• Card payments

• Cloud systems

• Email

• CCTV

• Online bookings

• Remote access

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Can Starlink Be Used on Building Sites?

 

Yes.

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Temporary construction sites are a particularly strong use case because permanent broadband may not yet exist.

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Starlink can potentially support:

• Site offices

• Laptops

• Tablets

• Cloud drawings

• Email

• CCTV

• Remote monitoring

• Video meetings

• Project management systems

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We use Starlink ourselves in connection with building and refurbishment projects.

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Can Starlink Be Moved Between Locations?

 

Starlink offers services designed for different types of use, including portable and roaming applications.

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The exact rules depend on the Starlink service plan being used, so current terms should always be checked directly with Starlink.

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For people who regularly move between locations, portability can be one of Starlink's greatest advantages.

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What Is Starlink Roam?

 

Starlink Roam is designed around people who need connectivity away from one permanent home location.

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It can be particularly interesting for:

• Motorhomes

• Campervans

• Caravans

• Camping

• Remote working

• Temporary sites

• Travel

• Mobile businesses

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Current service terms and availability should be checked with Starlink because plans can change.

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Is Starlink Good for Motorhomes and Caravans?

 

Yes, particularly for travellers who regularly visit locations with poor 4G or 5G reception.

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Portable mobile broadband may be simpler where mobile coverage is excellent.

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Starlink becomes much more compelling where the local mobile networks struggle.

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What Is Portable WiFi?

 

Portable WiFi normally uses a 4G or 5G mobile network to create a small wireless hotspot.

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This may be provided by:

• A MiFi device

• A portable router

• A mobile broadband router

• A smartphone hotspot

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It can be extremely convenient where good mobile coverage exists.

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Starlink or Portable WiFi: Which Is Better?

 

Portable WiFi is normally smaller, cheaper and easier to power.

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Starlink has the major advantage that it does not depend on local mobile coverage.

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If strong 5G is available, portable WiFi may be the obvious option.

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If there is little or no usable mobile signal, Starlink can become far more valuable.

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Is 5G Better Than Starlink?

 

Sometimes.

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A strong 5G connection can provide excellent internet at a relatively low cost.

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But 5G performance depends heavily on location, mast coverage, congestion and building construction.

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Starlink becomes particularly useful where 5G is unavailable or unreliable.

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Do You Need a Phone Line for Starlink?

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No.

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Starlink does not require a conventional telephone line to provide its satellite internet connection.

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You do need electricity and suitable Starlink equipment.

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Does Starlink Need a Clear View of the Sky?

 

Yes.

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Trees, buildings and other obstructions can interfere with the path between the Starlink terminal and satellites.

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Choosing the correct location for the equipment is therefore important.

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Can Starlink Be Installed on a Roof?

 

Yes.

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Starlink equipment can be installed in several locations depending on the property.

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Possible positions can include:

• Roofs

• Gable walls

• Poles

• Chimneys

• Outbuildings

• Ground positions

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The safest and most suitable position depends on the building and surrounding obstructions.

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Can I Install Starlink Myself?

 

Many Starlink users can carry out a simple installation themselves.

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Professional installation becomes more attractive where the equipment needs:

• Secure permanent mounting

• Roof access

• Work at height

• Neat cable routing

• Specialist positioning

• Integration with a larger home network

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APN Connect can arrange independent Starlink installation support for homeowners.

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Is APN Connect an Authorised Starlink Installer?

 

No.

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APN Connect is an independent connectivity service and does not claim to be an authorised Starlink installer or reseller.

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Starlink equipment and service are supplied separately by Starlink.

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How Much Does Starlink Installation Cost?

 

APN Connect currently offers an independent homeowner installation service from £179.95 + VAT.

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The exact work required can vary according to the property, mounting location and installation conditions.

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What Does a Starlink Installation Involve?

 

Depending on the property, installation may involve:

• Identifying a suitable position

• Securely mounting the equipment

• Routing the cable

• Connecting the equipment

• Basic setup

• Checking connectivity

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More complicated installations may require additional work or equipment.

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What Starlink Accessories Might I Need?

Useful accessories can include:

• Wall mounts

• Pole mounts

• Roof mounting equipment

• Longer cables

• Travel cases

• Protective cases

• Adapters

• Networking equipment

 

The accessories required depend on how and where Starlink will be used.

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Does APN Connect Sell Starlink Accessories?

 

APN Connect may feature selected Starlink compatible accessories from third party retailers.

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Some links may be affiliate links, which means APN Home Limited may receive a commission if a purchase is made.

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The price normally remains the same for the customer.

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Is Business Broadband Different From Home Broadband?

 

It can be.

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Business broadband packages may offer features such as:

• Business support

• Faster fault response

• Static IP addresses

• Better upload performance

• Business routers

• VoIP integration

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The value of those features depends on how important internet connectivity is to the business.

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What Is Business WiFi?

 

Business WiFi refers to the internal wireless network used throughout commercial premises.

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A business can have extremely fast broadband but still suffer poor internet if the WiFi network is badly designed.

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Larger offices, warehouses and multi storey buildings may require several access points.

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What Is VoIP?

 

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol.

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It allows business telephone calls to be carried using an internet connection.

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Employees may be able to make and receive calls using:

• Desk phones

• Computers

• Smartphones

• Tablets

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Because VoIP relies on connectivity, reliable business broadband and backup internet can be particularly important.

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Can VoIP Work Over Starlink?

 

Yes.

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A suitable Starlink connection can support internet based telephone services.

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This can be particularly useful for rural businesses, construction sites and temporary offices where traditional broadband is difficult to obtain.

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What Happens if My Business Internet Goes Down?

 

The impact depends on how dependent the business is on connectivity.

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An outage might affect:

• Phones

• Payments

• Cloud systems

• Email

• CCTV

• Staff access

• Customer systems

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Businesses that cannot tolerate significant downtime should consider a secondary connection such as 4G, 5G or Starlink.

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Why Is My WiFi Slow When My Broadband Is Fast?

 

Your broadband connection and WiFi network are different things.

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The broadband may be delivering excellent speed to the router while the wireless signal struggles to reach other parts of the building.

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Common causes include:

• Distance

• Thick walls

• Multiple floors

• Poor router positioning

• Interference

• Too many devices

• Outdated equipment

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Improving WiFi can sometimes make a greater difference than changing broadband provider.

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Is Ethernet Better Than WiFi?

 

For fixed equipment, Ethernet can provide a very stable connection.

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It is particularly useful for:

• Gaming PCs

• Games consoles

• Business computers

• VoIP phones

• CCTV

• Access points

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WiFi remains invaluable for mobile devices, so many good networks use both.

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What Is Mesh WiFi?

 

Mesh WiFi uses several wireless units around a property to provide broader coverage.

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It can be useful for:

• Large homes

• Multi storey properties

• Extensions

• Loft conversions

• Home offices

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Where possible, wired connections between network access points can provide particularly strong performance.

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What Internet Is Best for Gaming?

 

Where available, good full fibre is difficult to beat because it can provide excellent speed and low latency.

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Starlink can be particularly useful where conventional broadband is poor.

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The best connection also depends on WiFi quality, Ethernet, latency and household usage.

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What Broadband Speed Do I Need?

 

There is no single correct speed.

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Requirements depend on:

• Number of people

• Number of devices

• Streaming

• Gaming

• Working from home

• Video calls

• Large downloads

• Cloud services

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A reliable connection with good internal WiFi can often matter more than simply buying the package advertising the biggest number.

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Does APN Connect Recommend Starlink to Everyone?

 

No.

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We use and promote Starlink because we have found it extremely useful ourselves.

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But if excellent full fibre is already available, fibre may be the better solution.

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If someone has superb 5G and only needs portable internet occasionally, mobile broadband may be more practical.

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We recommend looking at the circumstances first and the technology second.

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Why Does APN Connect Promote Starlink So Strongly?

 

Because we use it ourselves across several real world situations.

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We use Starlink:

• In our architectural work

• In our property activities

• On building projects

• At home

• For streaming

• For gaming

• While developing and managing APN Connect itself

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That experience is why Starlink has become such an important part of what APN Connect covers.

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Was APN Connect Created Using Starlink?

 

Yes.

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Starlink has been used while researching, writing, developing and operating the APN Connect website.

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For us, that is one of the clearest examples of Starlink being used as a real working internet connection rather than simply something being reviewed from a specification sheet.