The New Lifeline of the Outback
Across Australia’s vast, unforgiving expanse, Starlink has become more than a convenience, it’s the new backbone of remote life and work. From mine sites and ranger stations to mobile contractors and emergency teams, low-earth-orbit (LEO) internet is closing the gap between the bush and the city.
But while Starlink’s signal now covers almost every inch of the country, the hardware itself was never designed for the Territory’s realities. Heat, humidity, vibration, and red dust chew through plastic housings and cables faster than most users expect.
That’s where Tekmounts steps in, transforming Starlink’s reach into reliable, rugged performance. Built in Darwin and tested in the Territory, Tekmounts housings keep connections alive through rain, road trains, and record heat.
Anyone can plug in Starlink… few can keep it alive through wet season and road trains – Tekmounts
💡Why the Switch Is Happening
Starlink’s rapid adoption across remote Australia is driven by a single truth: traditional networks couldn’t keep up.
LEO satellites, operating 550 km above Earth, deliver low-latency, high-bandwidth internet where towers and fibre can’t go. Mining companies, agricultural stations, and government agencies now use Starlink to run operations, stream telemetry, and coordinate logistics in real time.
The Northern Territory Government itself is investing heavily in LEO connectivity, extending service to schools, clinics, ranger bases, and police outposts.
For contractors, the impact is immediate. Setup takes minutes. Range is unlimited. Data speeds rival capital cities. For the first time, crews at McArthur River Mine or a fisheries vessel off Nhulunbuy can upload data and video calls without a satellite van or a $50,000 comms rig.
But what works in a Sydney backyard doesn’t survive long on an outback dozer or patrol boat.
The Harsh Truth About Field Conditions
Territory conditions destroy consumer gear. Between wet-season storms, 60 °C rooftops, bull dust, and constant vibration, unprotected Starlink kits fail fast.
Tekmounts’ founder and long-time NT fabricator saw this first-hand. After thirty years of building metalwork for Defence, mining, and transport, he knew what was missing: a housing system designed for the north.
The result is a CNC-cut, IP68-sealed enclosure that shields Starlink from water, dust, and impact. Each unit is machined, powder-coated, and assembled locally. The system integrates vibration isolation mounts, shock protection, and modular quick-release points that let crews swap between vehicle, camp, or marine use in seconds.
Stat Box:
IP68-rated: fully sealed against dust and immersion
Field-tested: over 12 months of continuous uptime in mine and marine use
Engineered and Manufactured in Darwin, Australia
The Territory Advantage
Tekmounts’ advantage goes beyond engineering. It’s a story of local manufacturing meeting national demand.
The company’s housings are now trusted by NT Police, Power and Water Corporation, NT Government Agencies, and Sitzler, with rollout into the mining sector accelerating .
These organisations depend on uptime. A dropped connection can halt operations, delay safety reporting, or leave teams offline during critical weather events. Tekmounts’ housings ensure Starlink keeps transmitting no matter the conditions, making them a vital link in Australia’s digital transformation.
And by manufacturing in Australia, reinforcing sovereign capability and keeping skilled jobs in Australia.
Built for Integrators, Built for Scale
Tekmounts also bridges the gap between Starlink’s global system and Australia’s on-the-ground operations.
Tekmounts supplies the rugged hardware backbone that makes those deployments possible: sealed housings, quick-release mounts, and serviceable field units that can be repaired locally instead of replaced overseas.
For end users, from Jayco caravans to Parks Australia field crews, the benefit is simplicity. Plug it in, mount it, and it works. Every Tekmount system arrives fully configured, tested, and ready to deploy.
Proof in the Field
Tekmounts housings have endured over a year of operation without failure. Contractors report zero downtime despite daily vibration on heavy machinery.
On the coast, Fisheries crews use Tekmount-protected Starlinks on vessels, surviving salt, shock, and UV that destroy standard mounts within weeks.
Each story adds to a growing record: Tekmounts doesn’t just sell protection; it enables communication where it’s needed most.
Tekmounts’ foundersums it up simply: It’s not about making it look tough… it’s about keeping people connected when it really matters.
The Bigger Picture… Sovereign, Reliable, Local
The shift to Starlink marks a turning point for Australia’s remote industries. Reliable, high-speed connectivity is no longer optional, it’s operational infrastructure.
But as the technology globalises, hardware support must remain local. Tekmounts fills that gap, proving that Territory manufacturing can deliver defence-grade solutions that scale nationally and globally.
Tekmounts stands ready to supply the physical layer, the mounts, housings, and quick-release systems that make LEO connectivity field-ready .
Staying Connected When It Counts
Starlink has changed what’s possible for remote Australia. Tekmounts ensures it stays that way.
When the next wet season hits, when the roads turn to rivers and comms towers drop out, Tekmounts users will still be online, streaming data, coordinating crews, and keeping communities connected.
Because in the Territory, “reliable” isn’t a buzzword. It’s survival.
Looking to protect your Starlink setup?
Book a demo or request a field trial of Tekmounts housings today.
👉 Contact Tekmounts sales@tekmounts.com.au | 0400 690 785
Check out our Tekmount Kits – find a kit that suits your needs
Built in Australia. Proven in the field. Trusted where comms can’t fail.
