Starlink for Business: Go Direct or Fusion Connect

Few advances have transformed how businesses stay connected quite like Starlink. Once, remote offices and rural worksites had few choices beyond costly or unreliable legacy connections. That's changed. Starlink uses a constellation of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet-practically anywhere.

Increasingly, businesses also turn to Starlink for reliable backup connectivity or as a primary internet solution in areas where traditional broadband falls short. While the service opens new possibilities, IT teams supporting multiple locations often encounter challenges. These include the physical complexity of antenna installations, the absence of static IPv4 addresses, limited monitoring capabilities, and gaps in enterprise-grade support.

For decision-makers, this raises a critical question: is it better to purchase Starlink directly, or from a managed provider like Fusion Connect that can layer on advanced monitoring, security, and business continuity solutions?

This guide compares these approaches and shows how partnering with Fusion Connect can help you get the most out of your Starlink investment.

The Two Main Paths: Buy Direct or Buy Managed

When businesses look to adopt Starlink for reliable satellite connectivity, the first question is whether to go straight to Starlink and manage the service themselves or work with a provider that delivers Starlink as part of a fully managed network solution. The choice comes down to how much control, support, and integration your business needs.

Two distinct Starlink purchase models:

• Order directly from Starlink (the "DIY" route), or
• Partner with a managed network solution provider like Fusion Connect, which will professionally install, integrate, support, and optimize Starlink for business.

Why go direct with Starlink?The DIY method.

Going direct might seem the fastest route:

• Order hardware and service online: Easy signup, transparent pricing, consumer and business plans.
• Dynamic IP address: Unlike traditional ISPs, Starlink issues a dynamic WAN IP (not ideal if you require a static address for VoIP, VPNs, or certain cloud apps). However, Carrier Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT) is available in some situations. A CGNAT can mitigate dynamic IP issues to a degree, but it inserts another function into your network data path and requires networking expertise to set up correctly.
• Network autonomy: You set up, self-manage, and troubleshoot as needed. The Starlink app guides you through installation and monitoring tasks.
• Support: Issues route through standard support queues. Business plans give you 24/7 ticketing, but hands-on consulting or custom design is limited.
• Installation: With a direct Starlink purchase, you are fully responsible for choosing the installation location, running power and data cables to the device, and ensuring the setup is configured correctly. While the Starlink app can guide you to the best signal spot, that spot may well be on the roof of your building-meaning ladders, safety considerations, and the right tools are required. A small error or poor placement can lead to weak connectivity, downtime, or ongoing performance issues that impact critical operations.
• Who it's best for: Tech-savvy SMBs, single-site teams, those needing fast setup and willing to handle hardware/network (re)configuration themselves, and are comfortable installing the hardware outside.

Why Multi-Location Starlink Installs Often Go Wrong

For organizations managing multiple locations, deploying Starlink introduces unique logistical and technical challenges that are not present in traditional or fixed wireless setups. Complexities often arise in three areas: coordinating site surveys across varied terrains, handling equipment shipping and distribution, on-site installation, and integrating each Starlink terminal into a broader corporate IT infrastructure. These factors make enterprise-scale rollouts more intricate than single-site deployments.

• Coordinating site surveys across varied terrains:
  Each location comes with its own physical and environmental obstacles. Urban rooftops may be crowded with HVAC units or blocked by taller buildings, while rural locations often have tree lines, uneven ground, or limited roof access. Conducting surveys at scale means coordinating ladders, safety gear, and truck rolls across diverse sites. Any missed obstruction can translate to degraded performance, ongoing troubleshooting, or even wasted hardware deployments-costing both time and money.
• Handling equipment distribution and on-site installation:
  Managing shipments across dozens or hundreds of sites raises risks of delays, lost hardware, or incorrect kit allocation. Even when equipment arrives, site staff are often unprepared to run power and Ethernet cabling through commercial spaces, or to safely mount dishes on rooftops. Each wrong cable pull, misplaced terminal, or botched roof installation increases liability-both in terms of safety and future signal disruptions. Without trained installers, companies risk uneven deployments that leave some locations underperforming for weeks or months.
• Integrating each Starlink terminal as part of a broader corporate IT infrastructure:
  Starlink is not plug-and-play at enterprise scale. Each terminal must be configured to interoperate with corporate firewalls, SD-WAN appliances, VPNs, and security policies. Without careful integration, some branches could end up bypassing core controls, introducing shadow networks, and opening the door to security vulnerabilities. IT teams can also face ongoing headaches in monitoring, patching, and troubleshooting dozens of independent Starlink endpoints-none of which provide the same visibility or central management capabilities as existing wired services.

Direct Starlink:What to expect

Why go with Fusion Connect?
The Partner Advantage.

Fusion Connect takes Starlink further-especially for organizations with multiple sites, compliance mandates, uptime requirements, and the need for seamless integration across critical business apps. Fusion Connect installs, manages, and monitors the connection for you, freeing you up to focus on what matters- your business.

Fusion Connect Partnership: What to expect

• Hardware Included: Antenna Kit & Mounting Hardware for standard installations included.
• Data Cap Overage: Data overage refers to exceeding the data limit of your internet plan, which may lead to additional charges. We have a soft cap, which means no charges for overages.
• Professional Installation: We provide expert setup and activation of your Starlink dish by a trained installer.
• Static IP Option: This ensures your device maintains the same IP address at all times.
• Proactive Monitoring: We watch for any potential risks to your connection so you can watch your business.
• IPsec Capable: Encrypt data and authenticate users or devices on your network.
• Remote Access Capable: Work, troubleshoot, or manage your systems remotely.
• IP Allow-lists: Also known as an IP whitelist, is a security measure that restricts access to a network or system to only specified IP addresses or IP ranges.
• Business Priority Data Traffic: During network congestion, the priority queue will maintain normal speeds while the standard queue may experience slower speeds.

How Businesses Put Starlink from Fusion Connect to Work

• Retail/Restaurants: Guarantee resilient POS, secure Wi-Fi, and zero-handoff failover across every location-even if fiber or cable lines cut out.
• Construction/Field Sites: Bring sites online quickly with ready-to-go satellite kits and seamless future moves.
• Remote or Rural Branches: Replace unreliable DSL or costly LTE with business-class Starlink-managed for maximum uptime.
• Regulated Industries: Meet audit and compliance demands with static IPs, advanced security, and centralized controls.
• Backup Connectivity: Fuse Starlink with SD-WAN to ensure mission-critical processes stay up even during main network outages.

Decision Guide: Should You Go Direct or Managed?

Direct makes sense if:

• You're a single-site business and happy with DIY setups.
• Compliance and reporting requirements are minimal.
• No need for SD-WAN, static IP, or advanced security.
• Cost is the primary consideration.

Fusion Connect is the right choice if:

• You run multiple sites or require mission-critical connectivity.
• You want to guarantee uptime, not gamble with ticketed support.
• You need business continuity: automatic failover, instant redundancy for cloud apps, VoIP, POS, and more.
• Compliance, security, and operational simplicity are top priorities.
• You want one point of contact for billing, issue resolution, and network changes.
• You are looking for a great return on your investment.

How Starlink from Fusion Connect future-proofs your business

Starlink from Fusion Connect is a breakthrough for bringing connectivity to new places-but SMBs with growth plans, critical uptime demands, or regulatory constraints face real limits when going it alone.

Fusion Connect builds on the Starlink platform-offering static IP addresses, integrated security, proactive managed support, and business-class SD-WAN integration to maximize ROI and minimize risk.

Fusion Connect's experts can handle everything-from design to deployment to ongoing management-ensuring your Starlink investment keeps your business online, competitive, and protected, no matter what.

Ready to upgrade?

Bring reliable, compliant, and truly business-ready Starlink internet to your sites-primary or backup-with Fusion Connect.