SATELLITE COMMUNICATION is far from a new invention, having been around for decades since Telstar launched in 1962. Although a game-changing technology with unparalleled versatility and geographical coverage, issues with signal latency, and interference have persistently plagued satellite communications. Now, after years of research and development, the latest generation of satellite communication is set to render such deficiencies things of the past. Starlink promises to address the drawbacks of existing systems while introducing a host of novel advancements. Behind this technology is the American company SpaceX, a key player in the privatization of space travel through its host of innovations ranging from reusable rockets to interplanetary transport systems. 

Introduction to Starlink

  The precursor to today’s Starlink was WorldVu, which began in 2014 as a constellation of 700 satellites designed to provide the widest possible coverage of any such system. WorldVu was eventually refined and formally launched by SpaceX in 2015, under the name of “Starlink.” After a development process lasting three years, the first batch of two Starlink satellites were launched into orbit on Feb. 22, 2018, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. In November 2020, Starlink Internet services commenced operations, initially being opened to beta testers for the purpose of evaluation and resolving any bugs before general release. Pre-orders were opened to the public in February 2021, while improved Gen 2 satellites featuring increased capacity began launching in December 2022. Starlink is projected to be available in Korea by June 2023[1]. 

   Starlink has three primary functions, the first being Satellite Internet. Starlink aims to tackle both the urban and rural markets, providing cheaper services to major cities and coverage to remote areas that could not be served by earlier generations of satellite communications. The second role is the Cell Phone service, which will be rolled out initially with T-mobile in the United States in 2023. Starlink phone service has the benefit of availability in remote areas, in addition to the convenience factor; unlike previous satellite call services that needed bulky, specialized devices, Starlink will be fully compatible with the lightweight mobile phones of today. Finally, Starlink was also designed as a tool for military surveillance and communications, chiefly in the role of networking various assets on the sea, air, and land.

How Starlink works

  The core of Starlink lies with the satellites, 12,000 of which will form a “constellation” in Earth’s low orbit for maximum area coverage. Each individual satellite will be relatively small and optimized for mass production, weighing only 260 kg. 60 satellites are launched at a time using SpaceX’s own Falcon 9 rockets; presently, 3,850 satellites are orbiting Earth. There are three generations of Starlink satellites, each of which is more economical than the last. The second and third generations feature laser communication between satellites, which will dramatically reduce signal latency by reducing the need to use ground stations as intermediaries. 

   The way in which Starlink satellites are linked to users on the ground is similar to most of the other satellite-based communications. Ground receivers send 24 GHz[2] high frequency signals to satellites, which relay the data back to user devices on Earth. When a user activates a function on his/her device, the user’s data request goes from the device to a user terminal, which comes in the form of a satellite dish. The data is then sent to the satellite and proceeds to the internet service provider, after which the entire process is reversed to grant the user’s data request. 

What sets Starlink apart

 Although Starlink is fundamentally similar to preceding satellite-based communication systems, it possesses a number of unique benefits and challenges. Unlike conventional systems that employ several large satellites, Starlink utilizes thousands of small ones. This grants Starlink more coverage and less service outages, with the former being particularly useful for providing services to remote areas where fiber-optic cables are difficult to install. Moreover, Starlink satellites orbit Earth at a much lower altitude than their larger counterparts. Since the satellites are far closer to users on the ground, speed is dramatically improved, while latency is kept to a minimum. Starlink is presently averaging 150 Mbps[3] internet speed, with speeds of up to 160 Mbps, having been achieved in some parts of Lithuania. 

   However, Starlink’s unique architecture also presents a unique set of challenges, most of which stem from the sheer number of Starlink satellites orbiting Earth. For one, these numerous satellites could be mistaken for stars, making ground-based astronomy incredibly difficult. Starlink satellites also run the risk of causing congestion or colliding with other satellites and space debris. However, SpaceX has presented solutions for each of these issues. For starters, newer satellites are being designed with reduced brightness to minimize the risk of being mistaken by astronomers for stars and planets. Moreover, they will be fitted with sensors and thrusters for obstacle detection and avoidance, drastically reducing the probability of collisions with other objects in orbit. 

Applications of Starlink

   Starlink offers the Internet with three types of subscription services. The most basic “Internet” plan is designed for residential use, costing $599 for the hardware plus a monthly $110 subscription fee. Next up is “Business,” which offers twice the antenna capability and faster speed relative to the regular “Internet” service. The price is steeper in conjunction with the increased potency, coming in at $2,500 for the hardware and $500 for the monthly subscription. Last up is the “Recreational Vehicle (RV)” plan, optimized for usage in moving vehicles such as aircrafts, cars, and ships. RV hardware costs $599, while the monthly subscription fee is $135. Starlink RV is being widely adopted throughout the travel industry, with a notable early adopter being Royal Caribbean Cruises, which has started offering Starlink Internet on select ships from August 2022. Hawaiian Airlines has become Starlink RV’s first airline customer, and is set to offer Starlink Internet aboard its flights from 2023 onwards. Taking all the subscription plans into consideration, Starlink Internet is now active in all seven continents, with 1 million subscribers to date. Recently, it was also activated over Ukraine to replace Internet services disabled by the Russian invasion and protect the Ukrainian communications from Russian interference. 

[1] Korea JoongAng Daily

[2] GHz: Gigahertz, a unit used to measure the speed of computer processing and electromagnetic signals

[3] Mbps: Megabyte per second, a unit that represents internet speed, with speeds being faster the higher the number