Elon Musk’s Starlink has revolutionized home internet without the use of ground-based towers.

In today’s world, high-speed and reliable internet has become a necessity for people and businesses.

Musk is an entrepreneur who views the world differently than others. Musk is the creator of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which are two very successful and demanding companies. Musk recognized the need to be able to sustain a strong connection while using the internet.

Musk aims this invention to revolutionize global internet access by connecting satellites that are in orbit to be able to deliver high-speed broadband even to rural and remote parts of the world.

Unlike most internet providers, which rely on ground-based towers, Starlink uses satellite technology to send signals directly from space to its receivers on Earth.

Starlink’s number one goal is to eliminate the gap in internet accessibility between rural and urban areas. Remote regions with fewer internet connections could greatly benefit from Starlink.

After years of development within SpaceX, Starlink picked up the pace in 2021. Now, nearly two years and dozens of successful launches later, Starlink has more than 4,400 satellites orbiting the Earth, according to Space.com

While Starlink consists of only overhead satellites, issues such as space debris could create many problems. As many people know, much of space has not yet been explored. This means meteors and other floating objects could come into contact with and destroy Starlink’s satellites. This could be one of the reasons why Starlink is the only internet provider that doesn’t use towers on the ground.

As the network expands and more satellites are deployed around the globe, Starlink’s capabilities will continue to improve, offering faster internet speeds and increased reliability.

The most recent activity with Starlink took place on June 12, when another 52 satellites were sent into low Earth orbit. With that launch, the total number of satellites grew to approximately 4,600.

Recently, a prospective customer was placed on a waiting list because so many people wanted to have Starlink. After word spread, Elon’s Starlink became incredibly popular, causing a back-up on orders.

How does Starlink work?

Receiving and installing Starlink in your home is very simple. When delivered, the box contains the satellite, the router, and a 50-foot cable. The cable is already hard-wired into the satellite; all one does is plug the USB-C cable into the back of the modem and plug the modem in.

One of Starlink’s most advanced features is the home satellite. When plugged into power, placed outside, and clear of obstructions, it automatically rotates until it finds the strongest connection with the nearest space satellite.

Musk claims that “as we launch more satellites, install more ground stations, and improve our networking software, data speed, latency, and uptime will improve dramatically.”

How much does Starlink cost?

Starlink is now accepting orders on a first-come, first-serve basis. First, one must put down a $99 deposit, claiming a spot to receive the internet. In 2021, when Starlink was beginning to become popular and attract buyers, Musk said that some preorders could take as long as six months to receive.

Starlink’s service is billed at $99 per month, not including taxes and fees, and a one-time payment of $499 for the router and mountable satellite dish to install at home. Although Musk previously predicted that the Starlink hardware price would decrease over time, the price recently increased to $120 monthly for the subscription and $599 upfront for the router and satellite.

Some may think $120 monthly for internet access is expensive, but with Starlink growing rapidly, it could easily become the most used WiFi worldwide.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell addressed the pricing of the internet service. “Starlink wanted to keep pricing as simple and transparent as possible and had no plans to introduce service plans.”

What are the threats posed by Starlink?

First, the most pressing issue is the potential for satellite collisions. SpaceX having over 4,200 satellites in orbit could cause many issues with the safety of the satellites and the atmosphere.

Second, Starlink has already created significant light pollution. Scientists also fear that the satellites will add space junk and chemicals to the atmosphere. Starlink already consists of over half of all of the active satellites orbiting the Earth. The high reflectivity of these devices is filling the sky with artificial light.

Overall, Starlink is becoming very popular across the globe bringing fast and reliable internet speeds and connections to areas with little to no internet at all. The use of satellites rather than towers allows Starlink to provide a great option to those who may live in more rural areas, but it doesn’t come without a cost, both to the user and potentially in space.