Speedify Uses Backup 4G/5G Cellular Together with Starlink on Ubuntu Linux to Keep You Online
Starlink works on Ubuntu Linux like any other network, and Speedify lets your Ubuntu computer use Starlink and 4G/5G cellular at the same time. Add a USB cellular modem or an Android phone with USB tethering turned on, and if your Starlink internet connection drops, Speedify switches your traffic to cellular automatically, so downloads, SSH sessions and calls keep going. Speedify needs that cellular connection: with Starlink alone, it works as an encrypted VPN and cannot stop Starlink from dropping. A wired line works the same way: here is how to add wired Ethernet failover to Starlink on Ubuntu.
There’s no Starlink app for Linux, and you don’t need one. Your Ubuntu computer joins the Starlink router’s Wi-Fi, or plugs in with an Ethernet cable, with no drivers to install.
Starlink Internet Connection Dropouts Happen to Everyone
Speedify measures thousands of Starlink users in more than 150 countries. From 29 September to 12 October 2026, fixed Starlink dishes went offline for about 37 minutes a day on average, and Starlink dishes on RVs and boats for about 61 minutes a day.
Starlink also switches each dish to a new satellite every 15 seconds, and a switch can cause a short dropout. Even a perfectly installed Starlink dish goes offline, and about 7 in 10 Starlink users on Speedify use Starlink together with a second internet connection, like 4G/5G cellular.
Why Starlink Needs a Second Internet Connection on Ubuntu Linux
Starlink is fast most of the time: Starlink lists download speeds of 45 to 280 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 to 30 Mbps. It still has short drops and slow spells:
- Satellite switches: your Starlink dish switches to a new satellite about every 15 seconds, and each switch can cause a short drop.
- Something blocking your Starlink dish: trees, roof edges, or snow on the Starlink dish block its view of the sky and cause slowdowns.
- A busy Starlink network: in the evening, when more people nearby use Starlink, speeds drop.
Ubuntu sends your traffic over one internet connection at a time. When Starlink drops, a long download stops, an SSH session freezes and a call cuts out, until Starlink comes back.
Why 4G/5G Cellular Is a Good Failover Connection for Starlink
Starlink reaches you from satellites. 4G/5G cellular comes from towers on the ground. What slows Starlink down, like a blocked Starlink dish or a busy Starlink network, doesn’t affect your cellular signal, and a cell tower outage doesn’t affect Starlink. The two rarely fail at the same moment, so each one covers for the other.
How to Use Starlink and 4G/5G Cellular Together on Ubuntu Linux with Speedify
Step 1: Connect a 4G/5G Cellular Modem or Phone to Your Ubuntu Computer
Plug a USB cellular modem into your Ubuntu computer, or connect an Android phone with a USB cable and turn on USB tethering in the phone’s settings. Ubuntu usually finds the cellular connection on its own. Open Settings > Network (or Settings > Mobile Network for a USB modem) and check that it shows as connected.
Step 2: Connect Your Ubuntu Computer to Your Starlink Wi-Fi Network
Click the network icon in the top-right corner of the screen, open Wi-Fi and pick your Starlink Wi-Fi network. Check that Starlink Wi-Fi and the cellular connection both show as connected.
Step 3: Install and Open Speedify on Your Ubuntu Computer
To download Speedify for Ubuntu, open the Terminal app, paste this command, press Enter, and type your Ubuntu password if it asks for it:
bash -c "$(wget -qO- https://get.speedify.com)"
When it finishes, open Speedify from your apps menu. Speedify finds both internet connections on its own, and you don’t need to set up any routing yourself. Speedify’s Linux install steps have more detail.
From then on, Speedify runs in the background. It uses Starlink and cellular at the same time for faster downloads and uploads, and when one of them drops, it switches your traffic to the other one without breaking your SSH sessions, downloads or calls. Speedify needs that second internet connection: with Starlink alone, it can’t add speed or stop drops.
Use 4G/5G Cellular Only When Starlink Drops, to Save Cellular Data
You choose how Speedify uses cellular: click the cellular connection in Speedify and set its priority. “Primary” uses cellular all the time, for the fastest downloads and uploads. “Secondary” uses cellular when Starlink is too slow. “Backup” uses cellular only when Starlink drops, which saves the most cellular data. You can also set a data limit for the cellular connection.
Speedify also encrypts all your internet traffic on both internet connections, whichever one carries it.
Check Starlink Dish Status on Ubuntu Linux
Speedify shows real-time Starlink dish alerts in the app on your Ubuntu computer. If the dish’s motor is stuck, its mast is tilted or it is overheating, Speedify shows an alert. You can also check your Starlink dish’s status in a web browser at dishy.starlink.com or 192.168.100.1 while you’re on Starlink Wi-Fi.
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Speedify combines Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite into one faster, more reliable internet connection. Free to try: 5 GB a month with a free account. No credit card required.
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