Asia Pacific has become a important test ground for satellite broadband. Some areas depend on satellite as the only way to get online, while others already have strong fixed networks. Government policies also vary, with some opening the door to satellite services while others hold back. Markets like Australia and New Zealand show stable, high speeds, while remote island regions continue to face limitations due to distance from network infrastructure.
Data from Ookla’s 2025 satellite broadband report gives a sense of scale. Starlink serves 155 countries, with around 10 million users. It also accounts for over 97% of global satellite Speedtest activity.
Low Earth orbit shifts expectations
Before low Earth orbit systems, satellite broadband in the region relied on operators using higher orbits. Satellites sit thousands of kilometres above Earth, which increases the time signals take to travel. That delay made everyday uses like video calls or cloud work difficult.
Providers like Kacific served parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, mainly targeting governments and businesses. Home use existed, but it was expensive and had slow response times. In the Philippines, latency reached nearly 600 milliseconds in 2025.
Starlink’s satellites orbit much closer to Earth, at about 550 kilometres. This minimises delay and allows satellite connections to handle tasks that once required fixed broadband.
Geography shapes demand
The need for satellite broadband in Asia Pacific comes down to geography. Countries like the Philippines and Indonesia consist of thousands of islands, making fibre rollout expensive and complex. Mongolia faces a different issue, with large areas of land and a scattered population. Across the Pacific, many communities are too remote to justify large infrastructure projects. In these settings, satellite is often the only workable option.
Regulation sets the pace
Government rules play a bigger role than demand in deciding where Starlink operates. Each market has required conditions before approval, often including data handling rules, security checks, and foreign ownership limits.
Some countries moved quickly. Australia, New Zealand, and Japan already had systems in place, so no major legal changes were needed. In Japan, Starlink first supported telecom networks not domestic customers. KDDI used Starlink to connect rural mobile towers, while defence forces tested it for communication needs.
Elsewhere, the process took longer. The Philippines approved Starlink in 2023 under a value-added service licence and Malaysia followed the same year with approval from the national regulator. Indonesia took more time, partly due to concerns about full foreign ownership.
Sri Lanka updated its telecom law for the first time in decades, while Bangladesh created a new licensing system for non-geostationary satellites. India remains a important market yet to go live. All major approvals are in place, but final steps like pricing for spectrum and security clearance are still under review.
Infrastructure affects performance
Service quality depends heavily on ground infrastructure. Markets with local gateway stations show far better results than those relying on distant connections.
Australia and New Zealand stand out. Both have multiple ground stations, which help keep latency low and speeds high. New Zealand recorded latency of around 35 milliseconds, while Australia reached median download speeds above 160 Mbps.
Other markets show mixed results. Malaysia improved its speeds over the past year, while the Philippines saw only modest gains. Indonesia recorded a slight decline, linked to rising demand and pressure on available capacity.
Latency means countries with nearby infrastructure perform much better, while those without it see delays climb above 100 milliseconds.
Pricing shapes adoption
The cost of Starlink varies less between countries than expected. Monthly fees tend to fall in a narrow range, but affordability differs based on income levels. In Australia, plans start at a level that many households can manage. In countries like the Philippines or Sri Lanka, the same pricing takes up a larger share of income.
In the Philippines, satellite broadband accounts for a small share of households, with many users coming from businesses and organisations. One example is Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, which uses the service to support remote banking agents.
Indonesia shows a similar trend. Growth in use is driven more by government programmes and industry needs than by home adoption. In Malaysia, stronger fibre coverage has reduced demand for satellite in urban areas, leading to a drop in use despite better speeds.
Markets moving at different speeds
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka introduced new rules to allow satellite services, and both saw strong early results. Bangladesh reached speeds close to 90 Mbps with low latency soon after launch. Sri Lanka recorded higher speeds but also higher latency, reflecting differences in infrastructure. Vietnam has set limits on the number of terminals, while India’s scale means a partial rollout could add a large number of users.
Starlink currently holds a strong position, but new entrants are starting to appear. Amazon’s planned low Earth orbit system will take over part of Australia’s government satellite programme. China is also building its own networks, including projects like Qianfan. Unlike Starlink, these systems often work through local partners not direct consumer access.
Another change comes from direct-to-device technology. This allows satellites to connect directly with mobile phones, extending coverage beyond fixed networks.
Each market in the Asia Pacific reflects a mix of geography and economics. In some places, satellite fills gaps, while in others it competes with existing networks. Regulation and pricing shape how services develop and who can access them.
As more countries review their policies and new providers enter the market, the next phase will depend on how the elements come together.
(Photo by NASA)
See also: Japan reaches near-universal 5G coverage, but local gaps remain
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