You Can Combine Starlink with Other Internet Connections - Another Starlink, 4G, 5G, DSL - Using Speedify to Get More Reliable Internet
As of April 2025, Starlink Internet can get you average speeds around 152 Mbps download, 18 Mbps upload and 33 ms latency (source), Starlink Internet is definitely much better than what you can get now in remote or rural areas.
The only major issue with Starlink is that it's currently in the works. Only about 7,000 of the planned 12,000 satellites have been deployed so far, as of April 2025. That means that there are instances where you can experience Starlink Internet dropouts, more or less, depending on where you're located. And they're the ones saying that on their website: "there will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all.
Luckily, some Starlink Internet users have already done the hard work - experiencing with different solutions to increase the Starlink Internet reliability. This article share some of the interesting solutions, as documented on the Internet and in Speedify Support.
Quick answer
Should you get a backup connection for Starlink?
Yes. Starlink goes down every day — an always-on dish averages about 34 minutes of downtime daily from routine satellite handoffs. A second connection keeps you online when Starlink drops.
What’s the best backup connection for Starlink?
A 4G/5G cellular hotspot or SIM is the most practical backup for most Starlink users — it works anywhere Starlink works, requires no installation, and uses a different network so outages rarely overlap. Cable or DSL broadband is a strong option if you have it at a fixed location. A second Starlink dish is also possible if you need maximum throughput.
How do you use two internet connections at once with Starlink?
Speedify combines Starlink with any other connection — cellular, cable, Wi-Fi, or a second dish — into one bonded connection. Speedify runs on your phone, laptop, or router. When Starlink drops, Speedify moves your traffic to the backup instantly, so calls don’t cut out and downloads don’t stall. Speedify is free to try.
71% of Speedify’s Starlink users already run a second connection. The data below shows why.
Try Speedify free →Speedify Starlink Index — real-world performance from 6,209 Starlink users: 2.4% downtime, about 34 minutes a day for always-on connections
Starlink goes down every day.
Here’s what that actually looks like.
Speedify passively monitors every connection it bonds. These figures come from 6,209 Starlink users over 14 days — compared in real time against the other connections on the same devices. No speed tests, no lab conditions.
Daily downtime
~34 min
2.4% of connected time unreachable
Median latency
60 ms
p90 spikes to 257 ms
Avg packet loss
0.17%
vs 0.08% on T-Mobile
71% ran at least one other connection simultaneously — 4,381 of 6,209 users. Cellular is the most common backup.
Use Speedify to stay online during satellite handoffs every 15 seconds
Research confirms Starlink switches between satellites every 15 seconds on a fixed schedule. Each satellite handoff is a potential dropout, and on a congested network or with any obstruction, those Starlink dropouts become real interruptions.
Speedify fixes Starlink connection drops by combining your Starlink internet connection with another satellite dish, Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, or wired Ethernet at the same time. When Starlink drops, Speedify keeps your traffic moving on the backup internet connection instantly.
Speedify alerts you about your Starlink dish status
Speedify software alerts you about your Starlink dish status as soon as your dish experiences an issue - e.g. when your actuator motor is stuck, the mast is not vertical or there's a thermal throttle.
Speedify's Starlink Control Center helps you monitor all your Starlink dishes, read obstruction maps, and align multiple dishes all in the Speedify app. Get a real-time view of each dish's health and optimize the position of each Starlink dish, so you get the best possible performance out of your Starlink connections.
Speedify
Speedify gives you faster, steadier internet by combining Wi-Fi, cellular, and Starlink
Speedify bonds Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, and Starlink into one connection at the same time, giving you more speed, automatic failover when one drops, and AES-256 encryption on every link.
Download Speedify ›More speed
Upload and download speeds combine across every active connection on your device.
Automatic failover
If a connection drops, Speedify moves your traffic to another in milliseconds. Calls stay connected.
Always encrypted
Every link runs through an encrypted tunnel, including public Wi-Fi, cellular, and Starlink.
Speedify Feature · Pair & Share
Speedify Pair & Share: share cellular between your devices, both ways
Most hotspots give. Speedify's Pair & Share gives and takes. Two devices running Speedify pair up and each uses the other's cellular connection simultaneously, so you both get faster uploads, faster downloads, and a steadier connection. No extra hardware, no new data plans, no setup beyond a tap.
Learn how Speedify's Pair & Share works ›More speed
Every device you pair with adds its cellular to yours, and yours to theirs.
Stays connected
If a paired device drops out, Speedify keeps you online on the remaining links.
Always private
Every shared connection runs through AES-256 encryption. Your traffic is yours.
No new gear
Runs on devices already running Speedify, over your local network. Pair once, reconnects automatically.
Two Connections Are Always Better Than One, Including Starlink
Joseph Cristina, content creator and Starlink user, has tested hundreds of routers for failover, load balancing and bonding. He only found a Peplink router being up to the game of making Starlink more reliable. But that has an expensive price tag to it. He tested Speedify thoroughly and now he recommends it - watch the video story on YouTube.
A LinkedIn Pulse article written by Chris Bunch on how to get Starlink working caught our eye. Among all the interesting, hands-on details, he's also talking about a Starlink failover solution.
The problem he was having is an "odd blip for a second or so every now and again whilst on video calls". So he researched about load balancing WAN, but that doesn't work, as switching between connections can take even more than just waiting for Starlink Internet to resume.
He finally found Speedify channel bonding VPN which he uses to combine his reliable, but slow FTTC connection with his less reliabe but faster Starlink connection. This way, he gets uninterrupted and reliable Starlink Internet.
Keeping the Same Session Alive Regardless of the Connection Used
An interesting review of using Starlink with Speedify was published on Nelson's log. The whole idea is similar to the above - solving the Starlink Internet reliability issues by using an additional Internet connection at the same time.
The thing that Nelson noticed is that Speedify managed to significantly minimize the packet loss rate, until it became better than on either ISP alone - Starlink and Wi-Fi backup.
In terms of results he saw, the increase in the upload rate was meaningful - the Starlink satellite connection's limited upload was supplemented by Wi-Fi.
Reddit Users agree: Speedify Is Great!
Where can you find unbiased reviews of products and services from real users if not on Reddit? Take this post, for example: prior to getting Starlink, someone had a "pitiful DSL connection" that they were going to cancel. But it turned out to be useful to pick up Starlink outages when used with Speedify.
On the same post, someone has a more complex setup, involving a 10/1 Mbps DSL connection, a 20/3 Mbps microwave connction and Starlink 50/15 Mbps. They are using a multi WAN router with the first two connections and bonding that together with the Starlink connection.
Here's another Reddit post under the same r/Starlink subreddit which talks about was to avoid Starlink disconnects. You'll find a lot of Speedify users there.
Starlink Internet Reliability: Smart Users Also Think About Failover Protection
We got a lot of inquiries here at Speedify regarding using Starlink Internet together with a secondary connection. In fact, all the people who contacted us mentioned they will use Starlink with their already existing Internet service, at least until there will be no more down times. And if we're talking about their cellular connections, those will most probably be there for the long run, as they are used on the mobile devices outside of the household as well.
One thing is for sure: Starlink users realize they have to get reliable connectivity through failover protection. Currently, the main issue with Starlink is the fact that not all the satellites have been deployed. But it can very well be some bad weather or network congestion even after the system is complete.
Pro Tip: after you jump up and down for joy that Starlink finally has coverage for your area, think beyond that. Having a fast and reliable Internet connection is what makes and breaks many of today's activities, especially those involving live streaming, video calls, gaming etc. Get Speedify for maximum Starlink Internet reliability. You will have the flexibility of using your Starlink satellite Internet together at once with any other type of connection.
Get started with Speedify today!
With Speedify you can combine Wi-Fi, 4G / 5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and other satellites into one bonded super-connection to improve livestreaming, video calling, gaming, web browsing, and everything else you do online.
Speed
Stability
Security
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