Reports indicate that Americans are clearly interested in both SpaceX’s Starlink and 5G broadband as potential home internet services. But untill now it is unclear which option is more attractive than traditional cable broadband. Some reports show that Americans are more interested in Starlink, while others indicate that most people are not sure whether they would use one over the other, or not at all. The demand for better internet is of course through [gestures at everything], but there is clearly some confusion as to which type of internet connection is best. So let’s dive in to clear it up.
First, where you live will likely determine whether you get better internet from Starlink or through 5G. SpaceX’s Starlink is a satellite internet service, which means it works best with a clear view of the sky in wide open spaces. Storms, trees, buildings, snow, or other natural or man-made obstacles can weaken the signal or drop the Internet connection all. Data packets and other virtual information are literally beamed down from space, so if any of that stuff gets in the way, your internet is likely to get spotty.
Not only that, however there is a finite amount of bandwidth that a satellite can provide to users, so if too many users connect to a terminal, it means slower internet speeds at home. Critics skeptical of Starlink have pointed to these challenges in the months since the FCC’s nationwide broordband resources to the unproven service.
“My concern is not the capacity of one or two users, but what happens when you reach 20 or 30 or 40 or 50,000 users. Clearly, you have to share the same constellation across the country, ”said Tim Bryan, CEO of National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. at a recent press conference“I have no doubt that the Starlink constellation could be successful in some areas, especially in things like the deep blue seas. I’m struggling to see how it will reliably deliver 100 megabit service to the hundreds and thousands of customers in the census block groups it has bid on. “
5G has an advantage over Starlink in terms of reliable service, as it is built on top of the existing mobile infrastructure. To get 5G service at home, you have to stick an antenna or a small receiver / transmitter on your house, which can then ping a 5G antenna on a nearby cell tower. The 5G signal radiates into your home and then a WiFi router covers your space with wireless internet.
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People living in rural towns and cities will have a better chance with Starlink, if they can afford it, than with 5G, unless telecom companies invest in providing services to their areas. People living in rural towns and cities will have a better chance with Starlink, if they can afford it, than with 5G, unless telecom companies invest in providing services to their areas. For mmWave 5G you will need more towers because the higher frequency speed travels much shorter distances. F.or slower, mid to low band 5G, the existing towers will do. (In principle, don’t expect lightning-fast internet for rural homes.)
T-Mobile has announced that it will have 9.5 million 5G Home subscribers by 2024. Verizon’s own 5G HOme’s service is still incredibly limited – to specific parts of specific cities – and the carrier has not specified how many people it hopes to attract.
Starlink currently only has 10,000 customers, although that number may be jumping fast because SpaceX has recently opened preorders for its satellite internet serviceIf or when the company discloses its reservation numbers, we may have a better idea of the demand for its satellite Internet service. The company asked the FCC for permission to deploy up to 5 million user terminals in August last year due to interest. But the question of whether SpaceX will launch enough satellites to cover the areas it needs to cover and provide reliable service remains.
Depending on where you live, either option might not be better than wired broadband or fiber. But for disadvantaged and unserved areas that lack reliable Internet service – a problem that has consequences 19 million Americans—Large internet providers fall for their work. It’s no wonder Starlink sounds appealing – to those folks, satellite internet may seem like the only real option.
Are you a Starlink customer? Email me [email protected] and let me know about your experience.