What is Starlink?
Starlink is one of the emergent satellite internet technology outfits by SpaceX that’s currently shaking up the ISP market.
For city and urban dwellers, fast and reliable internet service is almost a given. But for rural dwellers who have had to contend with slow, unreliable internet service and limited choice in picking from available ISPs, satellite internet is a godsend.
Installing high-speed gigabit fiber in urban centers is lucrative enough to warrant any expenditure by ground-based ISPs, as they can bank on the volume of connected users to offset costs and realize profits. But not so much in rural areas with sparse populations and much less demand for high-speed internet. This is where satellite internet comes in. The capital, time, and labour-intensive fiber cabling infrastructure is swiftly bypassed since the internet is beamed directly from the sky onto the building (or van).
Starlink is able to serve up to 150Mbps internet speeds to anywhere in the world, theoretically. All a subscriber needs is a clear view of the sky for their equipment to communicate with one or more of the Starlink satellite constellations. The satellite dish on the roof will receive internet from the satellite and pass it down to the router inside the house, much like cable TV.
How to sign up
On Starlink.com, the site will be able to capture the subscriber’s address and be able to determine whether the satellite internet service is available in the area or, if not, when the service is expected to be available.
Cost
Starlink’s monthly subscription charges are currently $110, with a one-time fee of $599 for the equipment, i.e., the satellite dish and router, which the company ships to the subscriber. These charges will, of course, vary depending on the country and factors such as forex rates and shipping costs, among others.
At first glance, Starlink internet is by no means cheap. But for rural dwellers or those in underserved areas who have had to grapple with poor or non-existent service and desperately need or can comfortably afford the satellite option, the cost is definitely worth it.
How it works
Being a satellite service, Starlink uses the same concept. Simply put, ground stations beam data to satellites in orbit, which then relay the data back down to earth for users.
Apart from ViaSat, another satellite internet service provider similar to Starlink is HughesNet, which relies on a constellation of satellites operating at a distance of around 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the planet.
Starlink, however, seeks to improve the technology by deploying low-earth orbiting satellites that will circle the earth at only 500 kilometers (or 300 miles) above the earth. A shorter distance will have the welcome effect of improving data speeds and reducing latency. While at it, they also aim to deploy about 40,000 satellites in the near future to ensure worldwide coverage with zero service dropouts.
Speeds and Performance
Starlink can deliver download speeds of between 50 Mbps and 200 Mbps and upload speeds of 30 Mbps, although this probably depends on a plethora of factors, including actual geographical location and weather phenomena.
While there are still congestion and outage issues with the current service, there is the expectation of improved service when more satellites are deployed into orbit, with ambitious goals of delivering gigabit speeds.
Congestions and downtimes have been a major pain point for the system, ascribed to limited capacity due to the number of satellites that can be deployed to serve a given area, which has to do with the design of low-earth orbiting satellite constellations.
Subscribers in areas with high demand might have to wait longer to be onboarded because of limited capacity. As with any such system, the closer to maximum capacity, the greater the service deterioration in terms of latency and speeds due to congestion. The most immediate solution would be the deployment of more satellites.
Urban or Rural
It seems Starlink and satellite internet in general are best suited and therefore geared for deployment in rural and remote areas rather than in congested, bustling metropolitan areas. Business-wise, there’s little reason for Starlink to compete with ground-based fiber ISPs that can offer reliable high-speed internet plans for a fraction of the cost.
Satellite technology would struggle to provide enough bandwidth for users in highly populated urban areas but would work great in low- or medium-density populations. For high-density urban areas, a far better alternative would be 5G.
Installation
Starlink satellite internet installation can be done in a DIY fashion without the need for qualified network technicians, as long as the satellite dish is installed with a clear view of the sky. Of course, a few tools and equipment might be required, particularly if it’s being installed on the roof of a house and needs to be secured.
The higher the satellite dish is installed, the better, especially in areas with obstructions like trees and neighbouring high rises. Users surrounded by dense tree cover might struggle to get reliable service.
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