Results of public beta testing of SpaceX’s Starlink, which provides global internet coverage from space are out. Users who took the test have confirmed blazingly fast results.
To take the trial, users had to get the Starlink ground equipment for $499 and alongside a further monthly fee of $99 for services. One of the users, who took the test, posted on Reddit that he got the streaming 1440p and 4K with zero buffering on YouTube.
He wrote, “Latency averages about 34ms, I’m seeing some jitter increase when obstacles are within the path. It’s on the roof with the ridgeline mount. I even have a few trees within the way, but getting steady high speeds.
Noticed a few interruptions, probably from satellite transitions, but almost 100% steady since initial setup. I actually uploaded this post using Starlink.”
“As a couple of different people are trying to find details on this, interruptions are about ten to fifteen seconds and appear to happen every jiffy. I have never noticed enough repetition to work out, but I’m suspecting it’s going to be when the satellite goes behind the few trees inside the obstruction area instead of satellite handoffs.
The app claims Starlink has not been obstructed recently, though, so I’m uncertain,” it added. Starlink had earlier sent invites to people that had signed for the beta program. A user on Reddit had shared the key points Starlink had mentioned about its Internet plan.
As per the post on Reddit, the program called Better Than Nothing Beta offered estimated speeds between 50mbps to 150mbps, estimated latency 20ms to 40ms. The phased array antenna and the router would cost a user $499 while the monthly subscription would cost around $99.
Musk had revealed his plans of making self-sustaining cities on Mars. The reports state that future colonies created by SpaceX would use Starlink satellites to supply internet connections to people. Starlink services provided to Earth or Moon are going to be governed by the laws of the State of California.
“For services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet which no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities,” the governing law states.
