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{{Short description|Satellite broadband Internet service}}
'''StarBand''' was a two-way [[Satellite Internet access|satellite broadband]] [[Internet]] service available in the [[United States|U.S.]] from 2000–2015.

StarBand ceased operations effective September 30, 2015 citing increased competition from other internet providers.<ref name=wired20150807/>

The StarBand satellite Internet system was a [[Very-small-aperture terminal|VSAT]] platform that used [[Ku band|K<sub>u</sub> band]] [[Communications satellite|satellite]]s for transmission of data from users' PCs to the StarBand network operations center. Two-way bandwidth for residential users was up to 1.5&nbsp;Mbit/s download speed and 256&nbsp;kbit/s upload speed, with unlimited usage and online hours. A 0.75 meter [[satellite dish]] is needed; the antenna was sufficiently small that [[homeowner association]]s could not prohibit its installation.

==History==
StarBand Communications Inc. was initially a joint venture between [[Gilat Satellite Networks]], [[EchoStar]] and [[Microsoft]], and the StarBand service launched in 2000. StarBand Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002 and emerged from bankruptcy in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|author=TheMarker.com Staff|title=Gilat's StarBand in Chapter 11: We've been unattractive investment vehicle|url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/10025166/1/gilats-starband-in-chapter-11-weve-been-unattractive-investment-vehicle.html|work=TheStreet|date=2 June 2002|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>
In March 2005, StarBand Communications was wholly acquired by [[Spacenet]], a division of Gilat Satellite Networks, which continued to operate the service.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Gilat Announces Acquisition of Remaining Shares of StarBand Communications Inc., Plans to Merge the Operations of StarBand into Gilat's Spacenet Subsidiary|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050307005542/en/Gilat-Announces-Acquisition-Remaining-Shares-StarBand-Communications|date=7 March 2005|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> As of mid-2005, StarBand had approximately 32,000 subscribers.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

StarBand announced in August 2015 that they would cease operations on 30 September 2015, citing [[Capitalism#Market competition|competitive pressures]] from other current satellite internet providers, as well as new higher-bandwidth providers ([[Starlink]] and [[OneWeb satellite constellation|OneWeb]]) on the horizon, with new constellations slated to come online before 2020.<ref name=wired20150807>
{{cite news |last1=Finley|first1=Klint |title=Grounded Satellite Internet Service May Open Sky to SpaceX |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/grounded-satellite-internet-service-may-open-sky-spacex/ |accessdate=14 August 2015 |magazine=Wired |date=2015-08-07 }}</ref>

==Technology==

StarBand offered the first residential two-way satellite Internet service in the United States market. Launched in November 2000, StarBand began selling the [[Gilat Satellite Networks]] SkyBlaster [[Conventional PCI|PCI]] card [[Very-small-aperture terminal|VSAT]]. Initially, the only way to purchase the StarBand system was to purchase a PC with the send/receive adapter card pre-installed as well as hosting software.

In 2001, StarBand began offering service using standalone VSAT units using the StarBand Model 180 (based on the Gilat Skystar Advantage/180 VSAT) connected via USB. The 180 modem was Windows OS-only because it required specialized Windows drivers for the USB interface.

In 2002, StarBand switched to Gilat's Model 360 VSAT, which enabled higher speed and allowed USB or Ethernet connections, but still required driver software to communicate.

In 2003, StarBand introduced the Model 480 modem (based on the Gilat Skystar 360E VSAT), which connected via Ethernet, supported multiple computers/OSes and required no additional software. The 48x series service supported [[Microsoft Windows]] [[personal computers|PC]], [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]], [[Unix]] and [[Linux]] computers. In late 2005, StarBand began selling only Model 480-based services.

In October 2006, StarBand introduced its next-generation service, the StarBand Nova (based on the Gilat SkyEdge series). The StarBand Nova modems were capable of higher speeds, optimized for VoIP, VPN, and worked on a more efficient hub. The SkyEdge modems had one Ethernet port and did not require hosting software for any OS platform.

Initially, StarBand supplied a .76M convergence antenna, which picked up two [[Dish Network]] signals and the satellite internet signal. StarBand later supplied a third generation .78M antenna, which required a separate antenna to receive satellite television signals. The third generation antenna provided a longer focal length, which helped to create a better signal-to-noise ratio.

All satellite internet providers such as StarBand measure the amount of data you transfer. Starband had six plans ranging from 500&nbsp;kbit/s down to 1500&nbsp;kbit/s down with weekly download limits of 750&nbsp;Mbytes to 4,000&nbsp;Mbytes.

==External links==
*[http://www.spacenet.com Official Spacenet website]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2000]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2015]]
[[Category:2005 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Internet technology companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of the United States]]
[[Category:Satellite Internet access]]