Starlink, a high-speed internet service led by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, is now available in India for pre-booking. The service will start functioning in the country from 2022 through SpaceX satellites that will be launched in orbit.
High-speed, low latency broadband internet.
Starlink is now delivering initial beta service both domestically and internationally, and will continue expansion to near global coverage of the populated world in 2021.
During beta, users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms in most locations over the next several months as we enhance the Starlink system. There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all.
As we launch more satellites, install more ground stations and improve our networking software, data speed, latency and uptime will improve dramatically.
Low latency = video calls & online gaming
Latency is the time it takes to send data from one point to the next. When satellites are far from Earth, latency is high, resulting in poor performance for activities like video calls and online gaming.
Starlink satellites are over 60 times closer to Earth than traditional satellites, resulting in lower latency and the ability to support services typically not possible with traditional satellite internet.
As per the Starlink website, the Starlink internet would reach India by next year, though the exact timeframe has not been shared. During pre-orders, it also seems to cover major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad among others. However, there is no blanket information available on the exact coverage details, and therefore users would need to check whether their areas are covered.
The world’s richest man had recently confirmed that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based internet provider, will double in speed later this year. The company currently promises speeds between 50 Mbps and 150 Mbps.
You might see much higher download speeds on Starlink at times. Testing system upgrades.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2021
In India, one can pre-book Starlink internet for $99, roughly Rs 7,200. The service will be available in the country from 2022.
The company’s internet service is expected to reach the remotest corners of the world, rather Starlink is suited for areas where connectivity has typically been a challenge, according to the website.
