SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that internet service Starlink would be launched later this month throughout the United States.
Musk made such an announcement after he previously said (per Mashable) that Starlink would end its beta phase in October.
On Thursday, a Twitter user wondered about the implication of his announcement for American consumers, particularly those in the south.
"Starlink beta is ending this month as stated, will we see more of the southern states (Louisiana, Texas, etc.) roll outs?" Twitter user @jc_comrade asked.
"Should be nationwide rollout by end of month. Note, still limited by peak number of users in same area. This will improve as more satellites are launched," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk replied.
SpaceX to Send Out More Starlink Terminals For U.S. Clients
According to the announcement, SpaceX is prepared to send out more Starlink terminals to consumers across the United States. If you reside in a region where there are already a lot of Starlink customers, you'll have to wait until the firm can launch more satellites into orbit to expand the network. Starlink now has over 100,000 users all around the world.
The key question is how SpaceX determines what constitutes "nationwide." Starlink already serves most states in the United States. However, data from Ookla, the firm behind Speedtest, shows that Starlink's coverage still has significant gaps.
Musk clarified in a follow-up tweet that Starlink is intended for areas with low to medium population density. As a result, they might quickly reach maximum users in some locations. He also urged the general public to "sign up early to guarantee a seat" on Starlink. SpaceX, according to Musk, will be able to serve more people as they launch more satellites.
How to Apply For Starlink
View the Jhon F. Kennedy school -the first place in Latin America to test Starlink satellite internet- in Sotomo, Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, on August 8, 2021. - South African billionaire Elon Mask's SpaceX company's Starlink started to deliver internet access Friday in Chile, making it the first country in Latin America and the southern hemisphere to have access to this experimental service.
On the company's official website, consumers may put a US$99 pre-order for Starlink. However, Starlink already has a large backlog of over 500,000 clients who have signed up to test it out. Consequently, depending on the location, the official Starlink website may state that the service will not be accessible until 2022 or even 2023.
SpaceX is planning to increase manufacturing of the Starlink dish terminal with a new, easier-to-manufacture variant to attract more clients. The firm, according to PCMag, created a next-generation Starlink dish that it can produce in "multiples" of 5,000 each week. These new dishes will be available later this year.
The end of the test might also mean that the service's speed will improve. According to the official Starlink website, beta customers may expect data rates of "50Mb/s to 150Mb/s in most areas" and latency of "20ms to 40ms." On the other hand, Musk has promised in another PCMag report that Starlink's rates would increase to 300 Mb/s later this year.
Furthermore, according to Musk, Starlink's latency will be under 20 milliseconds, allowing it to compete in professional gaming.
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Check out more news and information on Starlink in Science Times.