Elon Musk is already providing it. Jeff Bezos Also in line to launch. And there are other players too. Indian Airtel He also threw his hat in the ring. This means that this is a big and serious business. The ‘it’ here is satellite internet. musk starlink has already launched satellite internet The service is in ‘beta’ and is being used by people in some countries. Airtel has also announced that its satellite internet services will be available from next year. So what is satellite internet? We explain what this means for you, how it will work and whether or not it is safe.
What is Satellite Internet?
Remember how satellite TVs work? Satellite Internet is similar in this sense. A satellite dish will be installed in your home and the internet beams from space. Satellite internet requires no cables or anything as it comes ‘directly’ from satellites orbiting in space.
How does satellite internet work?
A satellite orbiting the Earth communicates using radio waves. However, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites use lasers to make it work. A communications network sends and receives data to your Internet-enabled device and connects to a satellite in space via a modem and satellite dish. It is then sent back to earth which is called NOC or Network Operations Center.
How useful will satellite internet be?
It will be easier to connect people living in remote or rural areas where ‘regular’ internet cannot be reached. Also, it is expected to deliver faster speeds. Average internet speed is anywhere from 10-40 Mbps depending on where you live. Satellite Internet promises to take it up to 300 Mbps — or at least that’s what Musk has promised with Starlink.
What Hardware Do You Need for Satellite Internet?
You will need a few things on your end: a device that can be connected to the internet, a modem/router and a satellite dish. Starlink sells a ‘kit’ that includes a satellite dish and a router. Similar hardware should be provided by other players in the satellite Internet space.
If it is connected to satellite, how important is the role of weather?
Well, quite important. For example, with satellite TV dishes, sometimes heavy rain or wind can disrupt your connection. The same applies to satellite Internet. The FAQ page on Starlink mentions “Heavy rain or wind can also affect your satellite Internet connection, potentially leading to slow speeds or rare outages.”
How much will it actually cost?
It is still in infancy so it is not clear. However, SpaceX has revealed that Internet service for the Starlink kit will cost $99 per month (excluding taxes) plus another $500. So this is an expensive proposition for now. There are companies in the US and UK with plans in the price range of $50 to $150 per month.
When can you expect satellite internet to launch?
Bharti Airtel has said that its service may be ready by the middle of next year. Elon Musk’s Starlink has indicated that it may launch in India but there is no definite date or concrete plans yet.
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