SpaceX’s Starlink hopes to create the most widely available low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet provider on the planet. And in a new update, it’s not far from doing so.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk added a few updates on Monday about Starlink, saying download speeds are expected to double by the end of this year.
“Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year,” said Musk today. Currently, download speeds are roughly at 130-150 Mbps download or so, with latency fluctuating widely around the 40 ms mark or so. Latency is the time it takes for a signal to reach you.
Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2021
Musk also responded to a Twitter user asking for an active coverage map for Starlink, saying plainly that Starlink’s coverage will cover “most of Earth” by the end of this year, and “all by next year,” in an exciting new update for future users of the satellite-based internet service provider (ISP).
Most of Earth by end of year, all by next year, then it’s about densifying coverage.
Important to note that cellular will always have the advantage in dense urban areas.
Satellites are best for low to medium population density areas.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2021
While Starlink, created by Musk’s space company SpaceX, is currently only available in a limited beta format, the ISP beta has already been rolling out to more and more users throughout the world in recent months, with many more expected to gain access to Starlink’s service throughout 2021. You can visit Starlink.com and sign up for the beta right now.
Starlink will primarily benefit the most remote, rural regions in the world, where internet connectivity isn’t completely stable, though SpaceX has also made plans to test its service on jets, demonstrating its potential for versatile use.
In his tweet, Musk also noted that the satellite-based ISP would be “best for low to medium population density areas,” after stating that “cellular will always have the advantage in dense urban areas.”
It’s safe to say that satellite ISP coverage reaching the entire Earth by 2022 will be quite the accomplishment for humanity, and we can only hope that satellite internet on Mars will someday become just as good.
The next SpaceX launch of Starlink satellites is set for later this week on February 24, 2021.
