Local vs. Satellite
400 Mbps. $65/month. No $599 equipment fee. Local support you can actually reach.
| Feature | South Texas Internet | Starlink |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $65 | $120 |
| Advertised download speed | 400 Mbps | Up to 250 Mbps |
| Real-world speed in South TX | 400 Mbps | Typically 100–150 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 25 Mbps | 10–20 Mbps |
| Latency | <50ms | 20–60ms (variable) |
| Data cap | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Contract | None | None |
| Setup fee | $0 | $599 dish purchase |
| Weather reliability | High — ground-based | Moderate — dish ices, rain fades |
| Local support | Yes — call Hondo, TX | No — ticket only |
| Installation | 1 business day | Self-install, 5–10 days to ship |
| Price increases | None in our history | Yes — multiple since launch |
Starlink advertises speeds up to 250 Mbps. In real-world residential use across Medina, Atascosa, Frio, and surrounding counties, customers typically see 100–150 Mbps down — and as low as 50 Mbps during peak hours, bad weather, or network congestion. Upload speeds typically run 10–20 Mbps.
STI's Velocity 400 plan delivers a consistent 400 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up. That's 2–4x the real-world download speed of Starlink in this area, at $55/month less, with no $599 dish to purchase.
Starlink dishes ice over in freezing conditions and lose signal in heavy rain. South Texas thunderstorm season runs spring through fall. When weather rolls through Medina County, satellite signals degrade — sometimes completely. STI's Air Fiber towers are ground-based and built for South Texas weather. We live here too and we're not willing to lose service every time it storms.
When Starlink has a problem, you submit a ticket and wait. When STI has a problem, you call (830) 429-4149 and talk to someone in Hondo, Texas. Our field team — Nick, Russell, and Gabe — is on the road across South Texas every day. New customers are installed within one business day of signing up.
Starlink costs $120/month plus a $599 dish you have to buy upfront. That's $599 before your first month of service. Over two years, Starlink runs $3,479. STI runs $1,560 over the same period — with no equipment purchase, no contracts, and faster real-world speeds in South Texas.
★★★★★"Great customer service! Had a nice gentleman Nick install a 20 ft pool antenna and when it wasn't enough he made it his mission to get the correct setup to boost my speeds. Now I have no speed or connection problems. A lot cheaper than Starlink."
Cut your bill in half. Get local support. Installed in one business day.
(830) 429-4149