Starlink as a service is designed to bring in satellite based internet to people from all over the world. While there are still some kinks and issues to solve, the premise that we are getting internet anywhere in the world via satellites is amazing. But there are still plenty of things to configure and focus on at this time. There are obvious challenges that can appear, and you never really know what can arise and how it all comes together.
When will Starlink internet be available?
Right now, Starlink is in beta, so it will take a bit of time until everyone will be able to test it and use it as a customer. Apparently, at the end of 2020 there will be some parts of the US that will have access to it commercially. There’s no official launch date, although a lot of people expect it to arrive in 2021 at some point. This is an interesting approach and one that helps push the overall experience to the next level in a powerful and distinctive manner, which is what you really need in a situation like this.
Because the satellites are still limited and there aren’t 12000 of them which Space X promises will be when the project is fully available, urban areas will not be the right pick for this system. That’s because each one of the geographical areas has its own capacity limitations. Starlink is more focused on those regions where the internet is not widely available and where people still want internet access. It will work great particularly in the case of remote locations, so that’s definitely a crucial aspect that we will need to focus on in the very near future.
How much will Starlink internet cost?
There are no official price points right now, but the Beta testers are stating that they saw all kinds of screenshots, all of which sharing the same price. That price is $99 per month, and you will also have to pay a $499 upfront cost if you want to get the Starlink Kit. The kit is mandatory and it will have a router, mounting tripod and the terminal you use to connect to the satellites. It’s interesting to see this price point, which isn’t exactly very affordable. But since it can offer great internet speeds just about anywhere, the potential is high and that’s the thing which matters the most.
How fast will Starlink internet be?
Although the beta speeds are obviously slower, the promise from Starlink is that they are indeed going to deliver internet at high speeds. The expectations are that they will bring in 50 mbps and up to 150 mbps in some regions for downloads. Beta testers already pushed over 70 mbps, and the infrastructure is not there yet. The upload speeds are now at 3.5 to 14 mbps, but they are expected to double, if we are to think about what Starlink is promising right now. The service is very innovative, and it will only get better if more satellites are deployed!