Starlink, the Global Connection

IEC Telecom, a French satellite service provider, is officially a Starlink satellite internet service authorized distributor for SpaceX. IEC Telecom made a new service portfolio with Starlink capability available for satcom users on Monday, including remote workers, multinational corporations, and maritime organizations. IEC Telecom provides new Starlink land solutions for mobile and fixed deployments. The business claims to offer specialized solutions for humanitarian missions, energy/mining/utility corporations, transportation companies, and more. It claims to control remote equipment using network administration OneGate.

Is Starlink Faster Than Legacy Satellite Internet?

Math holds the key to the solution. Other carriers, besides Starlink, beam down the internet via geostationary satellites. The operational height of geostationary satellites is 35,000 km. The electromagnetic wave from the user terminal travels to the geostationary satellite when a user sends a signal. The response then returns to the user receiving end. The internet’s total round trip distance is 70,000 km (35,000 km plus 35,000 km).

In contrast, the delay of cable internet ranges from 20 to 40 milliseconds. As can be seen from this comparison, cable internet is at least ten times faster than regular satellite internet. The internet speed cannot be increased by a geostationary satellite. Let’s determine the Starlink satellite internet delay. Starlink can only operate 550 km above the surface of the planet. Therefore, 550 km plus 550 km equals 1,100 km for a roundtrip internet signal from a Starlink dish to a Starlink satellite to a Starlink dish. Thus, the roundtrip time is 1,100 km / 3,00,000 km/sec, or 3.67 milliseconds.

Although the latency is 3.67 milliseconds in theory, in practice, it is more like 20 to 30 milliseconds because of numerous system delays. In summary, cable and traditional satellite internet are slower than Starlink. Furthermore, the internet speed provided by Starlink is adequate for professional gaming.

Starlink Is All over the Globe

No matter where you reside, Starlink’s internet service is accessible there. From Antarctica to the ocean’s core, Starlink offers coverage of the entire planet. There are thousands of low-earth orbiting satellites above us. You can hear its signal everywhere in the world. Starlink internet is accessible no matter where you are—in a lonely neighborhood, in the middle of the ocean, or even in space.

On the other hand, only some locations have access to cable internet (such as Spectrum). Their service is restricted outside of big cities. The speed of rural cable internet could be faster and cheaper. It applies to mobile internet as well. Cellular internet could be better for watching media like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.

Internet Even in the Toughest Times

It often takes days or weeks to restore internet service after a disaster in a particular area. Floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and storms can harm internet cable. After a significant storm, fixing those wires is time- and money-consuming.

However, no internet interruption is caused by a calamity on earth for Starlink. You can get Starlink internet once the sky is clear. It has tens of thousands of base stations worldwide. Starlink satellites will still have access to the internet even if certain base stations are offline due to adverse weather, thanks to other base stations.

Starlink Gives a Connection to the Unconnected

This latest deal showcases how much Starlink can be valuable. Giving connection to the unconnected. Be it maritime workers in the middle of the ocean or travelers in the deepest points of the deserts. Starlink can reach points no connection provider can dream of reaching. When you consider the humanitarian aspects of this technology, it can provide a solution to many problems. Yes, the hungry people of Africa might need many things over the internet. Yet the teams trying to deliver the supplies to these underprivileged areas need a stable internet connection the most. Be it to locate the destination, communicate, or locate airdrops.

Wrap up

Starlink is a far superior project to Musk’s rush toward mars. With all the solutions it provides to some of the trickiest issues. Yet it seems not to have the same mainstream push and appeal. Maybe the mass should shed more light on a genuine solution to many problems instead of focusing on a Sci-Fi adventure. Don’t you think investing in human empowerment might be better than focusing on human exploration? At least for now.

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