SHOOT FOR THE STARS

A new broadband internet service emerges

- MIKE JACKSON

As a kid, I was a big fan of Nikola Tesla, the brilliant inventor who gave us amazing technological advancements such as the Tesla coil, alternating-current motor, high-voltage transformer, hydroelectric power, and in total, more than 112 US patents. I liken Elon Musk to a modern-day Tesla, considering some of the extraordinary concepts and ideas Musk has presented, which quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing personalities of the modern era. He is certainly an incredible innovator and visionary, to say the least.

So, when I heard about Starlink, initially I will say that I was intrigued by the simple fact that it was a company owned by Musk, which meant it was something I was interested in learning more about. Then I heard that Starlink was his entry into the maritime market for fast, stable and affordable internet service at sea. My curiosity grew even more.

WHAT DOES IT OFFER?

Like most, I wondered what this new company would do, and how it would differ from others already on the market. Officially, Starlink is a high-speed, low-latency broadband internet service with worldwide coverage. In layman's terms, it is a new high-speed satellite-based internet provider that has obvious advantages in places such as rural areas and in the middle of the oceans. The coverage area of the SpaceX satellite network is global; it now has approximately 3,660 individual satellites in its constellation as of March 2023.