Starlink UAE explained: Speeds, monthly cost, waitlists and does WhatsApp work?

Dubai: A new era of internet services has begun in the UAE with the introduction of Starlink; a high-speed satellite connection that can exceed 400Mbps, along with extensive coverage and a completely different experience from traditional internet. Since the service's launch, demand has been high. When attempting to subscribe, a message appeared stating that capacity in the Mirdif and Sheikh Zayed Road areas, among others in Dubai, had reached its maximum limit and that the request was on a waiting list. However, this does not mean that applications have stopped; those interested can still pay a security deposit to reserve their place on the waiting list and will be notified as soon as the service becomes available again. According to the message displayed on the Starlink website, a timeframe for service availability cannot currently be determined, as the company is working to increase the capacity of its satellite system to expand coverage and reach more customers. The deposit shown upon application is Dh285.71, including the estimated total price and tax; however, this total amount may be adjusted after the address is entered. Space services license This raises the question: What does Starlink offer to attract such interest? What speeds and features do subscribers receive? The service launch came just days after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) granted Starlink a 10-year public satellite services license, allowing it to establish, operate, and manage a satellite communications network and provide broadband satellite internet within the country. TRA believes that Starlink's entry adds a satellite layer to the digital infrastructure, working alongside fibre optic and 5G networks, and can support sectors such as aviation, maritime transport, energy, logistics, and emergency response. Network of satellites Unlike traditional fibre optic internet services, which rely on cables that transmit data at high speeds using light, Starlink uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit. A Starlink dish connects directly to these satellites to provide internet access to the user, reducing the need to lay fibre optic cables to the site. This gives the service a significant advantage in areas with limited terrestrial network coverage. This is particularly true for farms, rest areas, desert locations, and remote regions, where a fast internet connection is possible as long as there is sufficient network coverage and capacity. 30-day trial period Starlink gives the user the opportunity to try the service for 30 days, according to the approved terms, and they can return the devices and get a refund if they find it unsuitable. Price comparison A comparison of home internet service offers in the UAE showed a great similarity in monthly subscription prices between service providers, in contrast to a noticeable difference in connection speeds offered to subscribers. According to the data, both e& and du offer home internet packages for Dh311 per month with speeds up to 250Mbps. In contrast, Starlink satellite internet offers a monthly subscription for just Dh300, with connection speeds of up to 400Mbps. Do WhatsApp calls work with Starlink? Although Starlink provides internet access directly via satellite, this does not mean that voice and video calling services blocked via internet applications such as WhatsApp are available. Using Starlink does not automatically mean bypassing these restrictions; it differs from the traditional internet in the way the connection reaches the user, not in the rules regulating services and content.