The internet situation in Los Angeles is basically a mess. You’ve probably spent hours on hold with Spectrum or Cox, wondering why your bill keeps climbing while your upload speeds stay stuck in the early 2000s. It’s frustrating. Most of us just accept it because, honestly, what else are we going to do? But then there’s Starry Internet Los Angeles, which has been quietly popping up on apartment rooftops across the city, from Koreatown to Santa Monica. It isn't fiber, and it isn't your standard slow-motion DSL. It’s fixed wireless, which sounds like tech jargon, but it basically means they’re beaming internet through the air using "millimeter-wave" technology to a receiver on your building.
I've seen people get really skeptical when they hear "wireless" because they think of spotty 5G or satellite dishes that cut out when it rains. This is different. Starry uses a technology called IEEE 802.11aj, operating in the 24GHz and 37GHz bands. They use these tiny base stations—they call them Starry Beams—to blast data to a "Starry Point" on your roof. Because they don't have to dig up the street to lay new cables, they avoid the massive infrastructure costs that usually keep internet prices high in LA.
What’s the Catch with Starry Internet Los Angeles?
The biggest hurdle is actually getting it. Since Starry relies on line-of-sight technology, they can't just flip a switch for the whole city. They focus on "MDU" or Multi-Dwelling Units. Translation: apartments and condos. If you live in a single-family home in Silver Lake, you’re probably out of luck for now. They need a big enough group of people in one building to make the equipment installation worth it.
Speed is the next thing people ask about. In Los Angeles, Starry generally offers a symmetrical 200 Mbps plan. Symmetrical is the keyword there. Most cable companies give you fast downloads but pathetic uploads—like 10 or 20 Mbps. That’s why your Zoom calls freeze or your 4K video uploads take three years. Starry gives you 200 up and 200 down. It’s a game-changer for creators and remote workers.
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Price is the other big disruptor. They launched with a flat $50-a-month model. No "promotional" rates that double after a year. No equipment rental fees for the router. No data caps. It feels almost weirdly transparent for an ISP. When was the last time a utility company didn't try to sneak a "broadcast fee" onto your bill?
The Real Tech Behind the Beam
Let's get into the weeds for a second. Starry uses massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s essentially a way to handle huge amounts of data by using multiple antennas at once. In a dense environment like Los Angeles, where signals can bounce off glass skyscrapers or get blocked by a stray palm tree, this tech is crucial. It keeps the connection stable even when the airwaves are crowded.
The company went through some serious financial turbulence recently. They actually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2023. A lot of people thought that was the end. But they successfully restructured and exited bankruptcy a few months later. They trimmed the fat, pulled out of some smaller markets, and doubled down on high-density hubs like LA. They’re leaner now. They aren't trying to conquer the world; they're just trying to dominate the apartment buildings they already serve.
Comparing the LA Giants: Starry vs. Spectrum vs. AT&T
If you’re lucky enough to have options, the choice isn't always obvious. Spectrum is everywhere. You can get 1 Gig speeds, but you'll pay a premium, and those "hidden" fees are real. AT&T Fiber is incredible if you can get it—nothing beats true fiber-to-the-home—but their rollout has been spotty in older LA neighborhoods.
Starry Internet Los Angeles fills this weird middle ground. It’s faster than basic cable for uploading, cheaper than fiber, and way easier to set up. When you sign up, they usually send a tech to your building, or if the building is already "lit," you just plug in their Starry Station router. The router itself is kind of cool—it has a little touchscreen that shows your speed and tells you if there’s an outage. It doesn't look like a black plastic spider with eight antennas.
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- Installation: Usually free, done by a pro.
- Contract: None. You pay month-to-month.
- Latency: Surprisingly low. We're talking 10-20ms, which is fine for gaming.
- Support: They actually answer the phone. It’s wild.
Reliability in the "Digital Divide"
There’s a social aspect to this, too. LA has a massive digital divide. South LA and parts of the Valley have been ignored by big fiber rollouts for years. Starry has been involved in programs like Starry Connect, which partners with affordable housing providers to offer even lower-cost internet to residents who need it most. They aren't just chasing the luxury lofts in DTLA. By using wireless beams, they can bridge the gap in neighborhoods where the ground is literally too expensive to dig up.
Rain fade is a real thing, though. Millimeter waves can be affected by heavy rain. Thankfully, Los Angeles isn't exactly a rainforest. Even during those rare atmospheric river storms we've been getting, the signal degradation is usually minimal because the distance between the "Beam" and the "Point" is kept short. If your building is more than a couple of miles from the base station, they won't even sell you the service. They’re picky about signal quality.
Is Starry Internet Right for You?
Honestly, it depends on your lifestyle. If you’re a pro gamer who needs sub-5ms latency for competitive shooters, you might still want a hardwired fiber line. Fiber is king for raw physics. But for 95% of people—Netflix streaming, Slack, huge file transfers, and general browsing—Starry is more than enough.
The main "con" is building availability. You can’t just buy it; your landlord or HOA has to agree to let them install a small dish on the roof. If you’re a renter, you might have to lobby your building manager. But since it costs the building $0 to install (Starry covers the gear), it's usually an easy sell. It adds "high-speed internet ready" to the listing, which landlords love.
How to Check Your Building
- Go to the Starry website.
- Punch in your specific apartment number.
- If it’s "Coming Soon," you can actually sign up to be a "Starry Champion" to help get your building on board.
- If it’s available, you can usually have a tech out within 48 hours.
Practical Steps to Switching
If you’re tired of the cable monopoly, here is what you actually need to do. First, don't cancel your current provider until the Starry tech is literally standing in your living room and you've run a speed test. Most Starry installs in Los Angeles take about 30 minutes. Once you verify that the 200/200 Mbps (or whatever tier you chose) is hitting your devices, then you make the "it's not me, it's you" call to your old ISP.
Check your router placement. Even though the Starry Station is sleek, putting it inside a metal cabinet will kill your speeds. Keep it central. Since LA apartments are often older with thick plaster walls or reinforced concrete, you might want to ask about their mesh nodes if you have a larger two-bedroom or three-bedroom spot. They offer "Starry Launch" which is their version of a mesh system to ensure your bedroom gets the same juice as your living room.
Finally, keep an eye on your billing. One of the best parts of the Starry experience is the lack of surprises. If they say it's $50, it's $50. No tax-on-tax-on-fee nonsense. In a city as expensive as Los Angeles, having one predictable, high-quality utility is a massive relief.
Actionable Insights for LA Residents
- Audit your current upload speed. If you're below 20 Mbps, you'll feel a massive difference moving to Starry.
- Check the "Line of Sight." If your apartment faces a massive brick wall or a hill, Starry might struggle to get a signal to your specific unit unless the rooftop receiver has a clear shot to the horizon.
- Lobby your landlord. Use the "free amenity" angle. Starry installs the rooftop equipment at their own expense, which increases property value.
- Watch the weather. During extreme LA heatwaves, electronic equipment can throttle. While Starry's gear is outdoor-rated, it's worth monitoring your speeds if it hits 110 degrees in the Valley.
- Use the Trial. They often offer a 30-day "Happy Interneting" guarantee. Use it. Stress test the connection with three simultaneous 4K streams and a video call to see if it holds up.