A Connectivity Crisis That Deserves More Attention
South Dakota doesn't make national news for its broadband problems, but it should. The Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Lakota people, spans over 3,400 square miles -- larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined -- and has some of the lowest broadband penetration in the United States. The Rosebud Reservation, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock face similar challenges. Across these communities, reliable home internet is not the norm. It's the exception.
This isn't just a rural inconvenience. Lack of internet access affects healthcare (telehealth is nearly impossible), education (students can't do homework), economic development (businesses can't operate online), and basic access to government services. The infrastructure to deliver traditional broadband to these areas doesn't exist, and building it across thousands of square miles of open prairie with low population density isn't economically viable for conventional providers.
Starlink changes this equation. A single dish and a clear view of the sky -- which South Dakota has in abundance -- delivers the same internet speeds available in Sioux Falls or Rapid City to the most remote home on the reservation.
Ranch Operations Across the Prairie
Beyond the reservations, South Dakota is ranch country. Properties spanning thousands of acres are common in the western half of the state. These operations increasingly depend on internet connectivity for:
Many ranchers have been limping along with cellular hotspots, which hit data caps quickly and deliver inconsistent speeds depending on tower distance. Some have invested in expensive fixed wireless systems with directional antennas pointed at towers 15+ miles away. Starlink typically outperforms all of these alternatives at a lower monthly cost.
The Standard plan at $50/month delivers around 100 Mbps, which handles all typical ranch operations comfortably. The $349 equipment cost is a fraction of what many ranchers have spent on tower-based wireless solutions that never worked reliably.
Installation on the Plains
South Dakota installations are unique in our experience. The good news: obstructions are almost never an issue. The open prairie provides 360-degree sky view from ground level. You could set the dish on a fence post and get a perfect signal. We've installed on properties where the nearest tree was a quarter mile away.
The challenges are different here:
Wind. South Dakota wind is relentless. Average sustained winds across the western part of the state are 12-15 mph, with frequent gusts exceeding 50 mph. Winter blizzards bring whiteout conditions with winds over 70 mph. Every mount we install in South Dakota is designed for this. We bolt directly into structural framing with lag bolts rated for extreme wind load. Ground-based pole mounts get concrete footings below the frost line.
Temperature extremes. South Dakota ranges from -30F in winter to 110F in summer. That's a 140-degree swing. The Starlink hardware handles it, but cable connections and mounting hardware expand and contract through these cycles. We use flexible conduit and leave appropriate service loops in cable runs to prevent stress failures.
Distance. Getting to installation sites can mean driving 60+ miles on gravel roads. For remote ranch installations, we plan logistics carefully to ensure we have all materials and equipment in one trip. There's no running to a hardware store when the nearest town is an hour away.
Power reliability. Many rural South Dakota properties experience frequent power outages, especially during winter storms. A battery backup system keeps Starlink running during brief outages. For longer outages, pairing Starlink with a generator or solar system ensures continuous connectivity.
What We've Seen on Reservations
We want to be straightforward about installation on reservation land. The need is enormous, but there are practical considerations. Many homes have older roof structures that need assessment before mounting. Some properties lack standard electrical infrastructure, requiring creative solutions for powering the dish. Community buildings, tribal offices, and schools can serve as connectivity hubs where Starlink provides the backhaul for local Wi-Fi networks serving multiple households.
The most impactful installations we've done in South Dakota have been at community anchor points -- a tribal office where residents come to access telehealth, a school that extends its Wi-Fi to the parking lot so students can do homework from their cars, a community center that becomes a de facto coworking space.
Tourism and Hunting Lodges
The Black Hills, Badlands, and Missouri River breaks draw visitors year-round. Hunting lodges in particular have embraced Starlink because their guests -- often traveling from urban areas -- expect internet access. A pheasant hunting lodge with no Wi-Fi in 2026 is at a competitive disadvantage. The $50-80/month Starlink cost is negligible in the context of a hospitality operation charging hundreds per night.
Bridging the Gap
South Dakota reminds us why satellite internet matters. Not as a luxury, not as a backup, but as essential infrastructure for communities that the traditional broadband industry has ignored. If you're on a ranch, reservation, or anywhere in South Dakota where internet access has been a struggle, get in touch to schedule an installation. This is connectivity that should have existed years ago.