Elon Musk’s SpaceX just announced that its satellite internet service provider Starlink is already in the Philippines, but what can it really offer?
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Starlink Philippines!
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What Starlink offers PH customers?
On Wednesday, SpaceX made the announcement on Twitter after around a year since it successfully secured a green light to register in the Philippines as a value-added service provider
Starlink's website said it is the,
World's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more.
Leveraging advanced satellites and user hardware coupled with our deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world, it added.
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Source: Starlink website |
While most satellite internet services come from single geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at 35,786 kilometers, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites. These orbits the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550km.
Since its satellites are in a low orbit, latency is significantly lower at around 20 ms vs 600+ ms.
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Source: Starlink website |
Each of the satellites has less mass and is more compact. These also autonomously maneuver to avoid collisions with orbital debris and other spacecraft, reducing human error and assuring reliability.
The custom-built navigation sensors that survey the stars help know the location of satellites for more precise placement of broadband throughput.
To attain global coverage, Starlink also utilizes optical space lasers that allow satellites to transmit data without local ground stations.
Starlink satellites feature a single solar array. These also utilize ion thrusters, which are powered by krypton that allows these to orbit raise, maneuver in space, and deorbit.
Starlink said it is the first commercially available phased array antenna.
A Starlink Kit has everything a subscriber need to get online, including your Starlink, WiFi router, cables, and base.
It is self-orienting and connects in minutes as long as it has a clear view of the sky, its website read. Starlink can withstand extreme cold, heat, hail, sleet, heavy rain, gale force winds, and even rocket engines.
The company said Filipino customers will enjoy speeds of 50-200 Mbps.
Those who want to avail of Starlink's services will have to pay a one-time fee of PHP 29,320 for the hardware, while the monthly subscription is PHP 2,700.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology said in August 2022 that Starlink is eyeing full coverage in the Philippines by the middle of 2023.
Starlink is seen to help connect communities in unserved and underserved areas.
Will you be availing of Starlink’s services?
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