There’s a silent revolution happening in rural america. People living in disconnected locations who had to be content with internet speeds as slow as 2-3 mbps are now able to stream 4k movies on netflix with a new kind of satellite internet.
Satellite internet isn’t exactly new and has been around for decades. But with the launch of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites by Elon Musk founded Starlink internet, high speed internet has reached highly remote disconnected locations in USA. Speeds test results in 2022 show that with Starlink, these rural households now enjoy average speeds as high as 100 mbps.
100 mbps might not sound impressive if you’re used to blazing fast fiber internet, but in remote locations where such a wired internet connection is unlikely, this is a huge deal.
This new service comes as a breath of fresh air for rural american users who until recently had to put up with ultra slow internet from legacy satellite internet providers such as HughesNet and ViaSat (News - Alert).
How does Starlink Satellite Internet Work?
Satellite internet from Starlink works by communication between Starlink’s satellites and a large pizza-sized device called the starlink dish. This works similar to any satellite dish except that the communication happens with low earth orbit satellites that are much closer to the earth making fast internet possible.
The dish is typically mounted on top of the house using mounting accessories at a spot where there’s a clear view of the sky. Starlink internet can underperform if there’s poor visibility of the dish to the sky due to obstructions such as trees.
Inside the house sits the Starlink router which is connected to the dish via cable. The entire installation process is simple and most users DIY it. In large houses, Starlink also gives the option of mesh nodes which can ensure uniform connectivity everywhere inside the house.
The changes brought by Starlink
In addition to bringing fast internet, Starlink has also changed user behaviour in several ways.
The low latency of Starlink’s internet has made competitive gaming possible from remote locations. Gaming on Starlink is viable due to the low ping and higher reliability of the internet which are essential for multiplayer gaming over the internet.
Starlink also has an internet plan for RV users which brings fast internet possible to RVers travelling to remote locations. Unlike 5G internet, Starlink RV interent has a much higher data cap making it cost effective for using it like a home internet connection.
The internet from Starlink also performs reasonably well under adverse weather conditions too. Most other satellite internet services perform terrible during rain, snow. Starlink isn’t completely immune to this but unless there’s heavy rains it’s internet is usually unaffected.
Limitations of Starlink
One main current limitation of Starlink is that there’s a huge waiting list for it. There are several states in the USA for which there’s an year or more waiting for getting a Starlink connection. Before you can order Starlink you need to check Starlink’s availability in your area.
Final Thoughts
With the expected launch of services like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, satellite internet is only expected to get better. Even with Starlink, their internet is only expected to get better every year as more satellites are launched. Currently there are less than 3000 Starlink satellites in orbit and Starlink hopes to launch around 42,000 satellites eventually. More satellites mean better connectivity and better internet for rural america.
