How Starlink assigns addresses
Starlink is a non-terrestrial LEO access network: your terminal associates with satellites and user traffic is backhauled to ground stations (gateways) that peer with terrestrial networks and use ordinary BGP routing. Residential IPv4 is typically delivered behind CGNAT, so many subscribers share a smaller pool of public IPv4 at the PoP (see CGNAT in depth). Your session’s public IPv4/ASN reflects the PoP, which is why geolocation can disagree with your physical town.
The radio link adds propagation delay, but addressing and NAT behave like other large ISPs: RFC 6598 100.64.0.0/10 often appears on the access leg; globally routable IPv6 reduces NAT pain when offered. See what the public internet sees for your IP.
TL;DR: Quick Summary
- CGNAT: Most residential Starlink users share a public IP with others.
- Dynamic Locations: Your IP might say you are in 'Chicago' even if you are in 'Rural Iowa.'
- The Gateway: Your internet 'Exits' to the world via a Physical Ground Station controlled by SpaceX.
- Latency: Because data travels to space and back, it takes about 25-50ms (very fast for satellites!).
- Public IP: You can pay for a 'Business' plan to get your own dedicated, non-shared IP.
- IPv6: Starlink is a leader in using IPv6 to give every dish its own unique identity.
Beginner Guide: Networking from Low Earth Orbit
In a traditional home setup, your cable comes from a box on the street. That box has a fixed location. With Starlink, the 'box' is a constellation of thousands of satellites. As one satellite leaves your view, your dish instantly switches to the next one.
This 'Handover' happens in milliseconds, but it means your IP address needs to be very flexible. Starlink uses a global network of Ground Stations. If you are in the UK, your data might exit from a ground station in London. If that station is busy, your next 'Packet' might exit from a station in France. This is why your 'IP Geolocation' can sometimes look like you are traveling the world while sitting on your couch. Check your current Sat-link 'Exit Point' and location accuracy here.
The Three Layers of Starlink Networking
1. The Dish (User Terminal)
Your 'Dishy' is a smart computer. It uses 'Phase Array' technology to track satellites without moving. It acts as your local router's gateway, assigning you a private internal IP (often from RFC 6598 100.64.0.0/10 on the access leg).
2. The Constellation (The Relay)
SpaceX satellites are 'Mirrors' in the sky. They don't 'Think' about your data; they just bounce the laser or radio signals from your house to the nearest Ground Station.
3. The Ground Station (The Internet Door)
This is where your data finally hits the 'Real' internet. Starlink has hundreds of these around the world. Your public IP address is assigned by the ISP equipment sitting in these ground stations. See the live 'Starlink Gateway' your data is passing through now.
Comparison Table: Satellite vs. Fiber vs. Starlink
| Feature | Old Satellite (HughesNet) | Cable/Fiber | Starlink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance to Server | 22,000 miles (High Orbit) | 10-100 miles (Ground) | 340 miles (Low Orbit) |
| Typical Latency | 600ms+ (Slow) | 5ms - 20ms (Fast) | 25ms - 50ms (Responsive) |
| IP Type | Static/Shared | Dynamic Public | CGNAT (Heavily Shared) |
| Location Accuracy | Very Low | High (City level) | Medium (Region level) |
Common Mistakes and Practical Issues
- The 'Location' Headache: Because your public IP is assigned at the Ground Station, websites might think you are in a different city. This can cause 'Local News' to be wrong or YouTube TV to show the 'Wrong' sports game.
- Double NAT: If you plug your own router into the Starlink router, you now have 'Double NAT.' This can cause problems for gaming (Xbox Live/PlayStation Network). It is highly recommended to use the Starlink Ethernet Adapter and put the system in 'Bypass Mode.' Test if you have 'Double NAT' issues on your satellite link here.
- Port Forwarding Fails: Because Starlink uses CGNAT, you cannot 'Open Ports' for a home server or camera system normally. You must use a workaround like Tailscale or a 'Cloudflare Tunnel' to get people into your network from the outside.
How to Get a 'Real' Public IP on Starlink
- Upgrade to 'Business' or 'Maritime': SpaceX offers dedicated public IPs for their more expensive plans. This is necessary if you host professional servers.
- Use IPv6: Starlink is excellent at providing 'Public' IPv6 addresses. If your software supports IPv6, you can skip CGNAT entirely.
- Use a VPN with a Static IP: If you need a consistent location for Netflix or work, a high-quality VPN can 'Fix' your location to any city you choose.
Summary
Starlink uses the same IP tools as terrestrial ISPs—public pools, CGNAT, IPv6, BGP—with an extra radio segment in the middle. Design for NAT traversal (STUN/TURN/ICE) where you need inbound reachability, prefer IPv6 when available, and expect geolocation to track the PoP. Check your public IP and related details.