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Tag: Starlink

  • Starlink Speeds Giving Traditional Broadband a Run For Their Money

    Starlink Speeds Giving Traditional Broadband a Run For Their Money

    Starlink may be the new kid on the block in the broadband industry, but it’s already giving traditional companies a run for their money.

    Starlink is the satellite internet service being deployed by Elon Musk’s other company, SpaceX. Unlike traditional satellite services, such as HughesNet and Viasat, Starlink’s satellites are in low-Earth orbit. This gives the service speeds and latency much closer to traditional broadband.

    According to the latest Ookla Speedtest data, Starlink is closing in on fixed broadband and, in some cases, has surpassed its speeds. In the US, the service is providing median speeds of 97.23 Mbps down, 13.89 Mbps up and 45 ms latency. In contrast, fixed broadband provides median speeds of 115.22 Mbps down, 17.18 Mbps up and 14 ms latency. In contrast, HughesNet and Viasat’s median speeds were under 20 Mbps down, under 3.5 Mbps up and had latency of 724 and 630 ms respectively.

    Ookla Satellite Internet Comparison – Credit Ookla

    Interestingly, Starlink faired even better in the international market. In fact, in Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France and the UK, Starlink beat traditional broadband in at least download speeds, and often in upload as well.

    This data shows Starlink is rapidly improving to be a viable alternative to traditional broadband — an especially impressive feat since the service is still in beta. With numbers like this, Starlink is quickly shaping up to be one of the best options at closing the “digital divide.”

  • Amazon Increases Efforts to Take on SpaceX, Acquires Facebook Satellite Internet Team

    Amazon Increases Efforts to Take on SpaceX, Acquires Facebook Satellite Internet Team

    Amazon is doubling down on its efforts to take on SpaceX in the battle for satellite internet, acquiring Facebook’s team to assist it.

    SpaceX is the undisputed leader in providing low-Earth orbit satellite internet. Unlike traditional satellite internet, SpaceX’s Starlink service offers speeds comparable with terrestrial broadband.

    Amazon has been working on its own service, but still lags far behind SpaceX. According to The Information, via Business Insider, Amazon is working to change that and has acquired Facebook’s team of more than a dozen strong. While Facebook had initially planned on launching its own service, the company told Insider it now plans to work with partner companies instead.

    Amazon also acquired some intellectual property as part of the deal, along with facilities and equipment. It remains to be seen if the addition will help Amazon catch up to SpaceX.

  • OneWeb’s Latest Launch Paves Way for Internet Service

    OneWeb’s Latest Launch Paves Way for Internet Service

    OneWeb has launched an additional 36 satellites, a milestone that will enable the company to start offering internet service this year.

    OneWeb is one of the main competitors to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Whereas Starlink has been offering service since 2020, OneWeb has still been launching its satellites and building out its constellation.

    The latest launch, however, brings the company across the tipping point where it will be able to start offering service in the northern hemisphere, according to Reuters. The company now has some 200 satellites in orbit and will soon be able to provide coverage to Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, conventional US and the Arctic Seas.

    While OneWeb lags far behind Starlink, which Musk is projecting to hit 500,000 users within 12 months, having a second low-Earth orbit satellite internet provider is a big win for consumers.

  • SpaceX Successfully Launches 88 Satellites

    SpaceX Successfully Launches 88 Satellites

    SpaceX has deployed 88 satellites, 85 of them for customers, as the company ramps up its payload delivery service.

    SpaceX has previously focused largely on deploying its own satellites, specifically for its Starlink constellation. The company is now branching out into space ridesharing, launching satellites for customers.

    The first such launch, Transporter-1, carried 143 satellites. Tuesday’s launch, Transporter-2, only carried 88 satellites but, according to TechCrunch, contained more overall mass.

    The launch also marked the first time this year the company successfully landed its first stage onshore, as opposed to landing on a drone ship.

  • Musk Sees Starlink Having 500,000 Users in 12 Months

    Musk Sees Starlink Having 500,000 Users in 12 Months

    Elon Musk talked about the status of Starlink, along with his expectations for the future, including his belief the service will have 500,000 users in 12 months.

    Starlink is the satellite constellation being deployed by Musk’s second company, SpaceX. The satellites are being deployed in low-Earth orbit and provide internet access to underserved communities. Because of their relatively low orbit, the service offers speeds and latency far in excess of traditional satellite internet, and more directly competes with traditional broadband.

    Musk made a remote appearance at the Mobile World Congress event, where he discussed the progress Starlink has made. The constellation now includes 1,500 satellites, with global internet coverage expected by next month, minus the poles.

    Musk also said he believes the service will grow rapidly over the next year.

    “We recently passed the strategically notable number of 69,420 active users,” Musk said, according to Mashable. ”We’re, I think, on our way to have a few hundred thousand users, possibly over 500,000 users within 12 months.”

    Individuals hoping to ditch their cable or fiber internet in the cities may be disappointed, however. Musk reiterated the service is primarily for underserved communities that don’t have access to traditional alternatives, and the company may limit users in more densely populated regions.

  • Starlink Targeting September for Global Coverage

    Starlink Targeting September for Global Coverage

    SpaceX is planning on providing global internet coverage by September, via its Starlink satellite constellation.

    Starlink is a satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit, providing faster speeds and better latency than traditional satellite internet. The service has been rolling out in various markets as SpaceX has continued to launch its satellites into orbit.

    The company is now targeting September as the point when it will have global coverage, according to Reuters.

    “We’ve successfully deployed 1,800 or so satellites and once all those satellites reach their operational orbit, we will have continuous global coverage, so that should be like September timeframe,” president Gwynne Shotwell told a Macquarie Group conference.

    Starlink has already transformed the internet experience for many individuals in rural and underserved areas. Global coverage by September is good news for those who still struggle to have reliable internet access.

  • SpaceX in Talks With Airlines to Provide In-Flight Starlink Internet

    SpaceX in Talks With Airlines to Provide In-Flight Starlink Internet

     

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX is in talks with “several of the airlines” to provide in-flight WiFi using the company’s Starlink satellite internet service.

    Starlink is the company’s constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit, designed to provide internet access. Because they are in low-Earth orbit, the service is much faster and has lower latency than traditional satellite internet. Many customers are reporting speeds well over 100 Mbps.

    SpaceX is now in talks with airlines to provide in-flight WiFi, a move that could be profitable and help raise awareness for the service. SpaceX said earlier this year that it intends to beam internet service to all kinds of mobile transportation including planes, ships, and trucks.

    “We’re in talks with several of the airlines,” Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX’s VP of Starlink and commercial sales, said Wednesday. “We have our own aviation product in development… we’ve already done some demonstrations to date, and looking to get that product finalized to be put on aircraft in the very near future.”

    Ultimately, the company intends to interlink the satellites with “space lasers” enabling the Starlink network to exchange data between satellites directly instead of beaming to Earth and back. 

    “With these space lasers the Starlink satellites were able to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data,” said SpaceX Senior Engineer Kate Tice. “Starlink will be one of the fastest options available to transfer data around the world.”

    SpaceX is currently in the lead among low-Earth orbit satellite options, and a deal with airlines could help cement that lead even more.

    The low-Earth orbit Starlink constellation includes 1,635 satellites so far and has an ultimate goal of 42,000 total. Currently, Starlink is servicing remote houses and businesses that aren’t able to receive internet service by other means.

  • SpaceX Taps Google to Assist With Starlink Internet Access

    SpaceX Taps Google to Assist With Starlink Internet Access

    Google is partnering with SpaceX to provide cloud and internet services, in combination with the latter’s Starlink satellite internet.

    Starlink is a constellation of satellites SpaceX is deploying to provide internet access. Unlike old-school satellite internet, Starlink satellites are in low-Earth orbit, offering speeds and latency that are comparable with Earth-bound broadband. As part of the equation, SpaceX ground stations relay the internet signal from the satellites to the end-user.

    As part of the deal between the two companies, SpaceX’s ground stations will be placed in Google data centers. This will give SpaceX access to Google’s high-capacity private network, a big boost for corporate and enterprise customers. The arrangement will especially benefit companies that rely on edge computing, or those in rural areas that need access to cloud services.

    “Applications and services running in the cloud can be transformative for organizations, whether they’re operating in a highly networked or remote environment,” said Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure at Google Cloud. “We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to ensure that organizations with distributed footprints have seamless, secure, and fast access to the critical applications and services they need to keep their teams up and running.”

    “Combining Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband with Google’s infrastructure and capabilities provides global organizations with the secure and fast connection that modern organizations expect,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “We are proud to work with Google to deliver this access to businesses, public sector organizations, and many other groups operating around the world.”

    Customers will begin benefiting from the partnership in the second half of 2021.

  • Elon Musk: Starlink Received Over 500,000 Orders, Most Will Receive Service

    Elon Musk: Starlink Received Over 500,000 Orders, Most Will Receive Service

    Elon Musk has disclosed that Starlink has received more than 500,000 orders, most of which will be filled.

    Starlink is the satellite constellation being deployed by Musk’s SpaceX company for the purpose of delivering high-speed internet access to underserved communities. Because Starlink is in low-Earth orbit, it is able to deliver speeds and latency on par with terrestrial broadband.

    The service had over 10,000 users as of February, but it appears there are far more interested in signing up. Some 500,000 have signed up for access, paying a deposit to be on the waiting list. Although Musk expects the majority of those will receive service, the deposits they paid are fully refundable, meaning any who don’t receive service will get a refund.

  • FCC Approves Additional Starlink Satellites at Lower Altitudes

    FCC Approves Additional Starlink Satellites at Lower Altitudes

    The Federal Communications Commission has granted SpaceX permission to launch satellites at a lower altitude.

    SpaceX has been deploying its Starlink satellite constellation with the goal of providing high-speed internet access to underserved communities around the world. The company has received extra impetus as a result of the pandemic, as many individuals in remote areas have struggled with reliable broadband.

    The majority of the Starlink constellation operates in the 1,100 – 1,300 km range, but SpaceX is wanting to launch 2,814 satellites at a much lower range — 540 – 570 km. The FCC has agreed to the request.

    Specifically, we modify the license by reducing the number of satellites from 4,409 to 4,408; modifying the primary operational altitude specified for 2,814 satellites, to change it from the 1,100-1,300 km range to the 540-570 km range

    Deploying satellites in lower orbit will help improve the speed and latency of the internet access, as it shortens the distance data must travel to and from the satellite to Earth-bound base stations.

    As part of the agreement, SpaceX had to agree to accept interference from Amazon’s Kuiper satellite constellation, which already had permission to operate in the lower altitude.

    SpaceX has since agreed to accept interference from the Kuiper system as well with respect to its Ka-band uplinks, where operating SpaceX’s satellites at lower altitudes will potentially make SpaceX more susceptible to interference.

  • SpaceX President: No Plans for Tiered Starlink Pricing

    SpaceX President: No Plans for Tiered Starlink Pricing

    SpaceX is aggressively rolling out its Starlink satellite internet service, and has no plans to offer multi-tier pricing.

    Starlink is a constellation of satellites designed to provide internet access to underserved communities around the world. Because the satellites are in low-Earth orbit, they provide much faster performance and lower latency than traditional satellite internet options.

    The service is currently in beta, but has been widely praised by users for offering speeds up to 500+ Mbps. While those reports are extreme cases, the average speeds users see are 80 – 90 Mbps. For individuals in remote areas, without access to fiber or cable internet, Starlink has been a game-changer.

    While many internet service providers offer tiered pricing, with different options, Space X president Gwynne Shotwell doesn’t see the company going that route, according to CNBC.

    “I don’t think we’re going to do tiered pricing to consumers. We’re going to try to keep it as simple as possible and transparent as possible, so right now there are no plans to tier for consumers,” Shotwell said, speaking on a virtual panel at the Satellite 2021 “LEO Digital Forum.”

    While some may lament the lack of choice, most consumers will probably appreciate the simple, straightforward options. The decision also puts Starlink in the same position as T-Mobile’s Home Internet, which also has a single, all-inclusive price for its service. After years of internet companies nickel-and-diming customers, simple options like Starlink and T-Mobile Home Internet are a breath of fresh air.

  • SpaceX Wants to Beam Starlink Internet to Planes, Ships and Trucks

    SpaceX Wants to Beam Starlink Internet to Planes, Ships and Trucks

    SpaceX wants to expand its Starlink internet access to moving vehicles, including planes, ships, trucks and RVs.

    Starlink is a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit that provide internet access to remote and underserved communities. The service has already met with favorable reviews, providing internet speeds that were previously unavailable to many of its customers.

    In order to work, the satellite constellation is paired with ground antennas. SpaceX is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to install its satellite receivers on moving vehicles to provide them with internet access.

    Consumers are interacting with broadband platforms in an increasing variety of ways. No longer are users willing to forego connectivity while on the move, whether driving a truck across the country, moving a freighter from Europe to a U.S. port, or while on a domestic or international flight.

    Elon Musk clarified the service is not aimed at cars, but is intended for larger vehicles.

  • SpaceX Launches 60 More Satellites, Working Toward 400 Per Trip

    SpaceX Launches 60 More Satellites, Working Toward 400 Per Trip

    SpaceX has successfully launched another 60 satellites for its Starlink constellation.

    Starlink is the company’s constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites designed to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved communities around the world. The service has received favorable reviews by early adopters, in some cases providing life-changing internet access compared to what was previously available.

    The company has initial approval for 12,000 satellites, although that could increase to as many as 42,000 in time. SpaceX recently passed 1,000 satellites in orbit but, at 60 satellites per launch, it will take some time to reach 12,000. Fortunately, the company believes it will be able to cover most of the globe once it hits 1,200 satellites.

    According to TechCrunch, however, the company is working on greatly increasing its payload size. Once it finishes work on its Starship, it will be able to launch 400 satellites at a time.

    At that rate, Starlink will reach its full size in no time.

  • Starlink Will Double Speeds and Cover Most of the World This Year

    Starlink Will Double Speeds and Cover Most of the World This Year

    Starlink internet service is poised to expand to much of the world, and double in speed, later this year.

    SpaceX’s Starlink is a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit. The constellation is designed to provide internet access to remote and under-served communities around the world. Many early adopters are reporting speeds in excess of 150 Mbps and latency of 39 ms.

    Elon Musk is teasing the company will significantly improve that this year.

    Musk also said the service will expand to most of the globe in that time.

    Starlink is already revolutionizing what people can do, providing a level of internet access many rural customers have never enjoyed. Musk’s announcements are good news for potential customers. Starlink’s expansion is especially good news at a time when record numbers of people are working from home, in some cases in areas where traditional internet options are less than ideal.

  • SpaceX Now Has Over 10,000 Starlink Internet Customers

    SpaceX Now Has Over 10,000 Starlink Internet Customers

    SpaceX has crossed a significant milestone, announcing it now has over 10,000 subscribers to its Starlink internet service.

    Starlink is a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit, designed to provide internet access to remote and underserved communities. Because the satellites are in low-Earth orbit, the service offers relatively high speeds and low latency, unlike traditional satellite internet services.

    The service just entered beta in late-October, expanding to the UK in January. Despite its short time on the market, the service has already passed 10,000 users, according to an FCC filing (PDF).

    Starlink’s performance is not theoretical or experimental. Over 10,000 users in the United States and abroad are using the service today. While its performance is rapidly accelerating in real time as part of its public beta program, the Starlink network has already successfully demonstrated it can surpass the Commission’s “Above Baseline” and “Low Latency” performance tiers.

    Starlink’s speed has been its biggest selling point, with many users seeing speeds in excess of 150 Mbps, combined with latency as low as 39 ms. Because many customers live in remote areas, in some cases, users were only getting single-digit speeds — or less — prior to making the switch to Starlink.

  • SpaceX Completes 17th Starlink Launch, Passing 1,000 Satellites

    SpaceX Completes 17th Starlink Launch, Passing 1,000 Satellites

    SpaceX has launched its 17th round of Starlink satellites, brining the total number to 1,015.

    Starlink is a satellite constellation aimed at bringing internet access to underserved communities around the world. The company’s service is available in some parts of the US, and recently became available in the UK, its first international market.

    Unlike traditional satellite internet, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit allows it to provide speeds and latency that rival Earth-bound broadband. What’s more, the service is reasonably priced, making it an ideal option for people who have traditionally struggled to have reliable internet access.

    With today’s launch, Starlink now has over a 1,000 satellites in orbit. While impressive, it’s still far short of the 12,000 satellites the company is already approved to launch, or the additional 30,000 — for a total of 42,000 — the company hopes to eventually send up.

  • OneWeb Raises Funding From SoftBank and Hughes

    OneWeb Raises Funding From SoftBank and Hughes

    OneWeb, a company dedicated to satellite-based internet, has raised additional funding from SoftBank and Hughes Network Systems.

    OneWeb has been working to launch a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide internet access. When compared with traditional satellite internet services, low-Earth orbit provides speeds and latency that rivals traditional broadband.

    OneWeb is one of the prime competitors to SpaceX’s Starlink service, although OneWeb has yet to achieve the success of Starlink. The company declared bankruptcy in 2020, emerging from Chapter 11 in November.

    2021 is already looking brighter for OneWeb, with investments from Hughes Network and SoftBank, bringing its total funding to $1.4 billion. The company is now fully funded for the first stage of its constellation, totally 648 satellites, which it plans to have operational by the end of 2022.

    “We are delighted to welcome the investment from SoftBank and Hughes,” said Executive Chairman of OneWeb. “Both are deeply familiar with our business, share our vision for the future, and their commitment allows us to capitalise on the significant growth opportunity ahead for OneWeb. We gain from their experience and capabilities, as we deliver a unique LEO network for the world.”

    A big factor in OneWeb’s favor is its streamlined plans, which it announced on January 13. The company had originally asked the FCC for licenses to 47,884 satellites. Now the company only plans on using 6,372.

    Hopefully OneWeb’s latest funding will help it become a viable competitor to Starlink, giving consumers more choice in a burgeoning market.

  • Starlink Internet Service Expanding to the UK

    Starlink Internet Service Expanding to the UK

    Elon Musk’s second company has hit a major milestone, expanding its Starlink internet service to the UK, its first international market.

    Starlink is a satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit that provides internet access. Unlike previous incarnations of satellite internet, Starlink’s low-Earth orbit allows it provide speeds and latency that are competitive with traditional broadband. In fact, early adopters are reporting speeds in excess of 150 Mbps download, more than 30 Mbps upload and latency in the 30s.

    With a successful beta test in the US and Canada, Starlink has now been approved for use in the UK, with the first kits already reaching people’s homes, according to Business Insider.

    Philip Hall, a resident of rural Devon in southwest England was only getting 0.5 Mbps with his previous internet service. After receiving the Starlink equipment, he’s now averaging 85 Mbps.

    “Within the hour we ran a Zoom quiz with grandchildren — it was wonderful,” he told BI.

    The company has also received approval for Greece, Germany, and Australia. If people continue to see the results initial adopters are seeing, Starlink could be a game-changer for rural and underserved communities.

  • SpaceX Wins $885 Million In Subsidies to Expand Starlink

    SpaceX Wins $885 Million In Subsidies to Expand Starlink

    Elon Musk’s other company, SpaceX, has won $885 million in federal subsidies to help it expand its Starlink internet service.

    Starlink is the constellation of satellites SpaceX is using to provide internet access to underserved regions and communities. Unlike existing satellite options, such as HughesNet, Starlink satellites maintain a low-Earth orbit. This gives the service much lower ping and higher speeds than competing services.

    Starlink opened up beta access to customers in the latitudes currently covered by the constellation, and the results have been impressive. Customers have reported speeds in excess of 150 Mbps and ping as low as 39 ms.

    The company has now won an $885 million grant to extend its service. The Federal Communications Commission published the list of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction winners. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) features prominently on the list.

    SpaceX initially plans on sending 12,000 satellites into orbit, with the constellation eventually including as many as 42,000. Given the expense of launching those satellites, the federal subsidies will likely go quickly.

  • NASA Concerned About Planned Constellation of Broadband Satellites

    NASA Concerned About Planned Constellation of Broadband Satellites

    NASA has expressed concerns over a planned constellation of broadband satellites from AST & Science.

    AST & Science is a Texas-based company that plans to launch a constellation of satellites that will provide 4G and 5G broadband to cell phones. NASA, however, objects (PDF) to the company’s plans on two grounds.

    First, the constellation will orbit approximately 450 miles (720 km) above the Earth. This is directly in the orbital range of the A-Train, “a group of ten NASA, USGS, and international partner (CNES, JAXA) missions that have a mean altitude of 705 km but have osculating altitudes between 690 and 740 km.”

    The second issue is the size of AST’s satellites. Because the satellites will have massive antennas on them, each one will take up a 30 meter radius, as much as 10 times the size of an A-Train satellite. This would result in substantial course corrections and mitigations.

    “Based on the results of a NASA CARA simulation tool, the number of mitigation actions required for a 30m hardbody radius (HBR) object in this orbit regime increases from ~2 to 6 per year—almost a tripling of what is observed presently,” writes NASA representative Samantha Fonder. “Second, the frequency of mitigation actions and associated planning efforts is of course multiplied by the number of spacecraft: for the completed constellation of 243 satellites, one can expect 1500 mitigation actions per year and perhaps 15,000 planning activities; this would equate to four maneuvers and forty active planning activities on any given day.”

    Accounting for these course corrections would require an entirely new, automated communication system between the different satellites. Since many of the existing satellites are older models, the upgrades would be challenging and costly.

    In contrast, SpaceX’s Starlink constellation orbits at roughly 340 miles (550 km), putting it well below the range of the A-Train.

    This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the proliferation of commercial satellites. Astronomers have been voicing concern for some time over the impact these constellations will have on astronomy.

  • Starlink Beta Already Delivering Over 150 Mbps Speeds

    Starlink Beta Already Delivering Over 150 Mbps Speeds

    Starlink’s internet service beta is already exceeding expectations, as it delivers faster speeds than promised.

    Starlink launched its beta on October 26, inviting individuals who had previously signed up and live within the current range of service. The company called it the “Better Than Nothing Beta,” perhaps in an effort to lower expectations.

    It seems lowering expectation may not have been required, as the initial reports indicate the service is exceeding expectations. Starlink said users would see speeds between 50 and 150 Mbps. One user in Montana, however, posted a screenshot of their speed test showing that Starlink was delivering 174 Mbps download, 33 Mbps upload and a mere 39 ms ping.

    In the Reedit thread discussing the results, users discuss how these speeds are 95% faster than what most Americans have. As the original poster says, “Starlink will forever change the game” for rural Americans.