Field Test: Setting Up Split Tunnels Over Satellite for Real-World Use
Making a VPN work smoothly with Starlink and other satellite connections without causing severe slowdowns requires a specialized approach. Satellite links are no longer just backup options; Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) services often provide fiber-like responsiveness with latencies in the tens of milliseconds. In contrast, traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites typically have latencies around 600 ms.
This significant difference in latency reshapes the concept of effective VPN design. The goal is to maintain security where it is most critical without sending all traffic through a slow, lengthy round trip. Split tunneling achieves this by routing sensitive or geo-restricted traffic through the VPN, while allowing all other data to connect directly to the internet.
Key Considerations for Split Tunneling
- Split tunneling improves speed and efficiency by limiting VPN use to necessary traffic only.
- It prevents slowdowns caused by routing all data through high-latency satellite links.
- This approach enables low-latency LEO satellite users to experience near fiber-like network performance.
Security Warning
Regulators and government standards often discourage or forbid split tunneling because it can introduce blind spots and potential backdoors if improperly configured.
If you choose to enable split tunneling, it is crucial to balance it with robust endpoint protection and strict whitelisting policies.
Author’s Summary
Optimizing VPN use over satellite links with split tunneling enhances performance while maintaining security through targeted traffic routing and strict protections.