Elon Musk – what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about him? Probably, his electric car company Tesla rings a bell, or his space venture SpaceX, or the episode of Saturday Night Live in which he starred, or perhaps that he is one of the richest people on Earth. While all of this is true, another venture of his makes him seem accessible. Not because you would be able to access him but because this venture, by the name of Starlink is a means to connect the whole world.
Musk has this idea to sell internet access to just about anyone in the world through a network of private satellites that keep on orbiting the earth. In this article, we would be discussing everything there is to, about Starlink.
What is Starlink?
In the year 2020, the Federal Communications Commission of the United States granted Elon Musk’s space company, SpaceX, with an amount of 885.5 million USD to support people with its Starlink satellite internet. This financial grant aimed to build a more reliable and faster internet service, especially for rural customers.
The development of Starlink started back in 2015, while the prototype satellite was launched in 2018. Over the years, SpaceX has propelled more than a thousand Starlink satellites into orbit.
SpaceX plans to put almost 12,000 satellites in the LEO or low Earth orbit, to offer low-latency, high-speed and cheap internet access to every person on the planet Earth. To use Starlink, all you would require is a 200 USD receiver that is the size of a pizza box.
SpaceX’s Starlink: Details You need to know
Is anyone using Starlink currently?
A recent filing of Starlink to the FCC suggests that more than 10,000 people are using the beta version of Starlink currently. The user base is stationed in parts of the United States., Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Once FCC passes this filing to become an authorized telecom carrier, millions of people would be able to use Starlink.
Is Starlink’s internet reliable?
From the reports of CNBC and Fast Company, we have found that the first customers of Starlink are fully satisfied with the service. DownDetector.com has tracked four service outages of Starlink in 2021; this might have been bad but the company had already warned its customers of brief no-connectivity periods during the beta version.
How can you sign up for Starlink beta version?
Starlink beta version is sending out more invites this year. If you are interested in being a part of this internet service, all you need to do is enter your home address and email ID on the Starlink website so that your name is in their records. Next, you will have to wait for updates on when the network becomes available in your vicinity.
You can also preorder your Starlink service for just 99.00 USD, even if it is not available in your area currently. The preorder amount is refundable, as the deposit does not guarantee that you will get the Starlink internet. The orders are being taken on a first-come, first-served basis right now. Because of the refundable option on deposit, it does not hurt to put down some money for this satellite internet.
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What can you expect from Starlink internet?
The FCC filing discussed above has reportedly shared some stats for the internet service as well. Since the service is still in beta testing, the stats look pretty decent.
- Users are currently getting 100 Mbps of download speeds and 20 Mbps of upload speeds.
- Latency is observed to be below 31 ms (milliseconds).
Once the service assumes its full capabilities, these numbers would rise to almost 10 Gbps.
Till the time comes, you can get your hands on Spectrum Deals, which offers up to 940 Mbps of download speeds, is reliable, and provides you with an unlimited data allowance.
Is Starlink better than other satellite internets?
Starlink, compared to its previous counterparts, is employing a new technology that works with satellites orbiting in LEO. The fact that these satellites are in low orbit means that their latency is so much lower in comparison. As such, millions of households would be able to use seamless internet for the first time ever.
When is Starlink going to be publicly available?
Starlink is in its beta phase right now and so is only available in parts of Canada, Northwest U.S., and select regions of the UK. While only 10,000 people are using it currently, Elon Musk believes that it will be available to everyone in the world by 2022.
At this point, Starlink has almost a thousand satellites orbiting around the Earth, however, the plan is to launch more than 10,000 satellites before catering to the whole world. Recently, SpaceX has hinted that it might launch around 30,000 satellites in the orbit.
What speeds and costs can be expected from Starlink?
Currently, Starlink is available at a monthly rate of 99 USD for about 50 to 150 Mbps of download speed. Though, Elon Musk has indicated in a recent tweet that the speeds might double to 300 Mbps by the end of 2021; latency is also likely to cut down to 20 ms.
The current plan of Starlink is offering unlimited data but there is no news if it will be the same in the future as well. Along with the monthly cost of 99 USD, users will also have to bear 499 USD for equipment.
Are there any downsides to Starlink?
Starlink has come forward as a global internet solution and shows promise, however, it has some downsides. One of which is the cost. An internet service for 99 USD monthly is not cheap, although the price is a lot more reasonable than some satellite internet plans.
Another problem that Starlink can face is that bad weather, just like the other satellite companies, can likely affect it too.
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The Last Word
Everyone around the globe is eager to find out more about Starlink and by the looks of its beta testing, the future looks promising. You can get your hands on first-rated information about Starlink at its official website.
I hope this tutorial helped you to know about SpaceX’s Starlink: Everything you need to know. If you want to say anything, let us know through the comment sections. If you like this article, please share it and follow WhatVwant on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for more Technical tips.
SpaceX’s Starlink: Everything You need to know – FAQs
When can I expect Starlink in my area?
Starlink satellite internet is currently available in parts of the US and Canada to people who live between 44 and 53 degrees latitude. Starlink plans to be available worldwide by the end of 2022.
How much does Starlink cost?
Starlink costs $110 per month with a $599 one-time payment fee. Starlink Business costs $500 per month with a $2,500 one-time equipment fee.
Is Starlink faster than fiber?
Starlink can be faster than fiber because although information moves at the speed of light through fiber cables, the speed of light changes depending on the medium it is moving through.
Why do we need Starlink?
Starlink’s satellites are meant to carry large amounts of information rapidly to any point on earth.
Is Starlink portable?
SpaceX has been enabling an experimental “portability” roaming mode for a growing number of Starlink customers, allowing them to connect when away from their registered home address.