Imagine being able to access strong and fast internet no matter where you are. That’s a dream for many people but it might be close to coming true. Aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced in 2015 that it was developing such a service called Starlink. The goal of Starlink is to offer internet access from anywhere in the world.
How Will Starlink Work?
It hopes to launch several small satellites in low Earth orbit that will be able to transmit fast internet signals down to Earth. Each satellite will weigh about 260 kg and will be powered by a single large solar array. The satellites will also have lasers that connect each satellite with four others in orbit. They will come packed with ion thrusters to help them stay in orbit longer.
SpaceX obtained permission from the US Federal Communications Commission to put as many as 12,000 SpaceX Starlink satellites above the planet. Due to the satellites being close to the earth, download speeds are expected to be about 1Gbps.
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When Will Starlink Internet Be Available in Your Country?
Elon Musk, in a tweet, mentioned that the public beta for the internet service would start this year in October. The official launch is slated for sometime next year (2021); Starlink has a mailing list in place to keep you up to date with when it will be available in your country.
Sign Up for Starlink
- Head over to the official Starlink website.
- You will see a contact sheet asking for your email and address in order to notify you when the service is available in your country.
It remains to be seen whether Elon Musk just sold to us a dream or he actually brought our dreams to reality. Information on pricing is currently unavailable but it will be interesting to see how Starlink prices itself in the economy that has seen Telecommunications services blossom with the MB style of internet provision.
Tell us, how excited are you about Starlink? How do you see it fairing against telecommunications services? Share with us in the comments section below.