Starlink Business Failover: Backup Internet Setup
How businesses use Starlink as automatic failover backup internet: dual-WAN routers, firewalls, mounting and typical installation costs.
Many businesses add satellite as a secondary WAN that takes over automatically if the primary fiber or cable line drops.
How it works
A dual-WAN router or firewall (UniFi, pfSense/OPNsense, Teltonika, Fortinet and others) monitors the primary link and switches traffic to satellite on failure, then back.
Installation checklist
- A commercial-grade mount with a clear view of the sky
- Surge protection and grounding
- Bypass mode on the provider router, or an ethernet adapter
- Health checks and alerting
- Testing the failover by pulling the primary line
Business vs residential plans
Business plans generally get priority data and support. Check the provider's current plan terms for commercial use.
Typical cost
$500–$900 for a single site; $900–$2,500+ for multi-terminal or failover builds (estimate).
Frequently asked questions
Will VoIP and VPNs work over satellite?
Usually yes. Have the installer test SIP and VPN tunnels during failover.
Can I load-balance instead of failover?
Yes, though most small businesses choose failover for simplicity.
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