USA: More than 400,000 people use the Starlink satellite internet group, which is run by SpaceX. It was launched in October 2020. It has cooperated with airlines and cruise lines and participated in conflicts in Ukraine.
On Saturday, Musk posted on Twitter that SpaceX has built more than one million Starlink user terminals used to connect business satellites into orbit. For people living in remote areas without access to reasonably priced broadband, Starlink could be an option.
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Why is Starlink getting so much buzz?
Musk-founded aerospace manufacturer SpaceX has an extensive, high-speed satellite Internet network in space called Starlink. Satellites in orbit circle the Earth and provide broadband connectivity to users - especially those in rural areas without a fixed-line connection.
More than 2,900 satellites are currently in low-Earth orbit thanks to SpaceX, which made its first launch in May 2019. By the middle of 2027, up to 42,000 satellites are expected. With an average of 60 satellites per launch, the satellites are attached to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and launched into orbit.
When the service launched, SpaceX informed Starlink beta test participants via email that they could anticipate speeds between 50 and 150 megabits per second, with sporadic outages. While others achieve much higher speeds. Even in below-zero weather, strong winds and snow, Starlink has managed to reach speeds of 175 Mbps.
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prices have changed
A Starlink subscription costs US$110 per month, and the Starlink kit—which comes with a mounting tripod, a Wi-Fi router, and a terminal—costs another US$600.
The service is more expensive than what users were initially charged in October 2020. Customers used to buy the kit and monthly subscription for US$600. In March, SpaceX notified customers of the price increase, with new customers now paying US$710. Prices were slashed at the end of August for users in the US and Europe.
Airlines and Cruise Lines Want Starlink
In March 2021, SpaceX requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permission to expand Starlink into the automotive sector. The organization authorized SpaceX to use Starlink on moving vehicles in June.
Since requesting the FCC last year, Starlink has agreed to provide Wi-Fi to passengers on flights operated by companies such as Royal Caribbean, Hawaiian Airlines and semi-private regional jet service JSX. Additionally, the business has discussed matters with Frontier and Delta Airlines.
Starlink uses antennas that can be mounted on automobiles, boats and airplanes and are "electrically identical" to current user terminals. Because the terminals are "too big," Musk claimed in a tweet that the antennas won't allow Tesla cars to connect to Starlink.
The billionaire also tweeted that he is testing Starlink on his private jet, "It's for planes, ships, big trucks and RVs."
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Iran and Ukraine are currently active
SpaceX has given Ukrainians thousands of Starlink dishes since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded their country in February. Despite Russia stepping up its efforts to hack the network, this remains the case.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov asked Musk to send Starlink terminals to his country in February. Musk responded that Starlink had been commissioned in Ukraine and that the terminals were on their way. By the end of June, Ukraine had received 15,000 Starlink Internet kits from SpaceX.
According to reports, Starlink has assisted Ukrainian forces. For example, a Ukrainian soldier told a journalist that Starlink had enabled Ukrainian soldiers to maintain contacts online while Russia attacked Internet infrastructure.
Musk tweeted on Friday that Starlink was being activated in Iran at the same time that the network was going down there. Connectivity and social media apps created panic amid protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody.