Reliable High-Speed Internet in Rural Wyoming

Wyoming, known for its wide-open spaces and stunning landscapes, also comes with a bit of a challenge—getting a decent internet connection in those remote areas. If you’re living a little ways off the beaten path, you might find yourself wrestling with some pretty limited options. Now’s a great time to try Starlink. They’re temporarily offering a discount on their equipment and you can get a free month of service if you use this link as a new customer.

How Rural is Wyoming?

Wyoming is the least populous state in the U.S., with just over half a million people spread across nearly 98,000 square miles. That’s a lot of space and not a lot of people. In fact, a large portion of Wyoming is classified as “extremely rural,” meaning fewer than six people per square mile. With such sparse population density, traditional internet service providers (ISPs) often skip these areas, leaving residents with fewer choices.

DSL, Satellite, and Fixed Wireless

In Wyoming’s rural areas, DSL is a common option, but the speeds can be painfully slow, especially if you’re far from the nearest hub. Fixed wireless is another possibility, but it requires a direct line of sight to a tower, which isn’t always doable in Wyoming’s varied terrain. And then there’s traditional satellite internet, which works just about anywhere but often comes with high latency and data caps—frustrating if you’re trying to stream anything or have a Zoom call.

Starlink: A Game Changer?

This is where Starlink comes in for those living in Wyoming’s most remote corners. Unlike traditional satellite internet, which relies on a few large satellites orbiting far from Earth, Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of small satellites much closer to the planet. This setup reduces latency and allows for faster speeds, sometimes even rivaling urban broadband.

With Starlink, you can expect download speeds between 50 to 200 Mbps and upload speeds of around 20 Mbps, making it a viable option for streaming, video conferencing, and even online gaming. It’s available almost anywhere you can see the sky, which in Wyoming, is pretty much everywhere. Plus, they claim to offer a full refund if you’re not satisfied after a 30 day trial.

Why Starlink Could Be Your Best Bet

Starlink’s ability to deliver high-speed internet to remote areas without relying on ground infrastructure makes it a top contender for rural Wyomingites. Starlink is designed to endure the elements – it can melt snow and withstand sleet, heavy rain, and harsh winds. Starlink’s small, nearly flat antenna easily stood up to our 90mph winds. We have had plenty of extreme weather and have not lost internet.

Instead of mounting to the roof with the base included with the standard Starlink box, we used this mounting kit (affiliate link). The Starlink installation was easy enough to do ourselves. Starlink is offering $200 off of their equipment price until October 5th, 2024. Find Starlink pricing and specifications at starlink.com/residential.