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Internet on the road: 4G routers vs Starlink

Remote work from a van needs reliable data. The two routes — cellular routers and satellite — solve different problems.

The two routes

€50/mo Starlink Roam base plan (EU)
RUTX series Teltonika 4G/5G router standard
eSIM Airalo multi-country data

Which you need

A cellular router (Teltonika) with a good data SIM covers most of Europe cheaply where there's signal. Starlink Roam fills the gap where cellular fails — remote coasts, mountains, forests — at higher cost and power draw. Many full-timers run both, cellular first and satellite as backup.

Key takeaways

  • A 4G/5G router + data SIM is the cheap default with signal.
  • Starlink Roam covers the dead zones cellular can't.
  • Heavy users run both, cellular-first.

Sources

What this page is based on — every source is verified and links out so you can check it yourself.

  1. Starlink Roam — officialverified · 2026-07 · VanLife Beacon