Starlink Everything You Need to Know about Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet in Gaza: American billionaire Elon Musk offered to provide satellite Internet communications to the Gaza Strip, via the “Starlink” service, after it was cut off by the Israeli army.

In response to a tweet by progressive US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in which she warned of the dangers of cutting off communications from Gaza.

Musk said that he would provide “Starlink” service in Gaza.

He wrote through his account on the “X” platform, which he owns, “Starlink will provide recognized international relief organizations in Gaza with the communication network.”

 

 

What is the “Starlink ” service ?

Starlink is a satellite constellation system intended to provide global Internet coverage. This system is ideally suited to rural and geographically isolated areas where Internet connectivity is unreliable or non-existent.

Starlink uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high-speed Internet services. Starlink was created in 2015, and is a division within SpaceX.

The project began launching satellites into orbit in 2019, on top of several million in various government subsidies. As of 2023, Starlink has nearly 5,000 satellites in orbit, serving a claimed subscriber base of more than two million.

Starlink’s constellation

The idea is that Starlink’s constellation of satellites connects users anywhere on Earth to the Internet. Starlink promises to bring “high-speed broadband Internet to locations where access is unreliable or completely unavailable.”

The company began selling receivers to individual and corporate customers before adding support for land and water roaming services, with customers paying a one-time fee for the devices, then recurring fees for Internet service.

There are other satellite internet providers like HughesNet or Viasat, but more people tend to know about Starlink thanks to its association with Elon Musk.

Starlink also leases access to satellite Internet service to cellular carriers. It plans to enable SMS communications in 2024 with voice, data and IoT coming online in 2025.

How does Starlink work?

Starlink works on satellite internet service technology that has been around for decades. Instead of using cable technology, such as fiber optics, to transmit Internet data, a satellite system uses radio signals across the vacuum of space.

Ground stations broadcast signals to satellites in orbit, which in turn transmit data back to Starlink users on Earth.

Each satellite in the Starlink constellation weighs 573 pounds and has a flat body. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket can hold up to 60 satellites.

The goal of Starlink is to create a low-latency network in space that facilitates edge computing on Earth. SpaceX has proposed a constellation of about 42,000 tablet-sized satellites orbiting the globe in low orbit to meet this demand.

CubeSats – the mini-satellites commonly used in low-Earth orbit – create tight network coverage, and their low-Earth orbit produces low latency.

 

Details about Starlink technology and methodology

Instead of using two large satellites, Starlink uses thousands of small satellites.

Starlink uses LEO satellites that orbit the planet only 300 miles above surface level. This geostationary orbit improves internet speeds and reduces latency levels.

The latest Starlink satellites contain laser communication elements to transmit signals between satellites, reducing dependence on multiple ground stations.

SpaceX

Aims to launch up to 40,000 satellites in the near future, ensuring global and remote satellite coverage while minimizing service interruptions.

– Starlink has the advantage of being part of SpaceX, which in addition to launching Starlink satellites, also conducts regular launches for partners. 

Other satellite Internet providers may not be able to schedule satellite launches on a regular basis due to the high cost factors involved.

 

How fast are Starlink’s internet speeds?

Starlink offers unlimited high-speed data via a constellation of small satellites that provide up to 150 Mbps of internet speed. SpaceX plans to double that rate in the coming months.

 

According to a recent Speedtest conducted by Ookla, Starlink recorded its fastest average download speed in Q1 2022 at 160Mbps in Lithuania. Starlink also recorded speeds of 91 Mbps in the US, 97 Mbps in Canada, and 124 Mbps in Australia.

 

Starlink in Mexico had the fastest satellite internet in North America, with an average download speed of 105.91 Mbps. Speedtest also revealed that upload speeds saw a downward curve of at least 33% in the US – from 16.29 Mbps in Q1 2021 to 9.33 Mbps in Q2 2022.

 

According to Starlink’s website, it offers fast speeds and latency of up to 20ms in most locations.

 

Where is Starlink available?

 

Starlink currently provides service to 36 countries with limited coverage areas. In the US, the company plans to expand coverage to the rest of the continental US by the end of 2023.

 

Although some countries, including Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, are marked “Coming Soon” on the Starlink coverage map. Starlink has no current plans to provide services to many countries, including Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea.

How to connect to Starlink?

Once users subscribe to Starlink, they will receive a Starlink kit that includes a satellite dish, a dish holder, and a Wi-Fi router base unit.

 

Starlink also comes with a power cable for the base unit and a 75-foot cable to connect the dish to the router. To use the service, Starlink customers must first set up the satellite dish to start receiving the signal and pass the bandwidth to the router.

 

The company offers a variety of dish installation options, including patios, rooftops, and home exteriors. There is also a Starlink app for Android and Apple iOS that uses augmented reality to guide users in choosing the best location and placement for their receivers.

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Can you use Starlink in bad weather?

Starlink is designed with extreme weather conditions in mind. According to the company’s website: “Designed and rigorously tested to handle a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, Starlink has been proven to withstand extreme cold, heat, sleet, heavy rain and gusty winds – and can even melt snow.”

 

Starlink uses LEO satellites and a phased array antenna to help keep its performance intact during extreme weather conditions.

 

Below we review how well the Starlink satellite works in various weather conditions:

 

*Cloudy weather: 

A typical cloudy day will not affect Starlink. However, storm clouds can affect signals, as they tend to create rain, which may cause signal interruption. Storm clouds are also wetter and denser, which may play a big role in deteriorating the satellite signal.

 

*Rain: 

Light rain generally doesn’t cause problems, but heavy rainfall can affect Starlink signal quality. Heavy rain is associated with thick, dense clouds. The denser the clouds, the greater the chances of blocking radio signals coming to and from Starlink satellites.

 

*Wind: 

A secured, properly installed Starlink dish that does not sway or move will not be affected by strong winds. The Starlink dish comes with a phased array antenna that can track satellites flying above it without you having to physically move. This also helps prevent signal interruption.

*Snow: 

Light snow should not affect Starlink signals, but heavy snow can affect performance due to moisture buildup. The Starlink dish comes with a heating function that defrosts automatically, but if ice builds up on top of the dish, it may need to be cleaned manually to avoid signal issues.

 

*Sleet and Ice: 

As with rain and snow, severe sleet and ice can negatively affect Starlink signals. The heating function melts ice and snow automatically, but heavy freezing or precipitation requires manual intervention to clean the dish.

 

*Fog: 

Normal fog should not affect your Starlink signal, but heavy fog may cause signal loss or interruption. Dense fog holds a lot of moisture and can be dense enough to interrupt the signal.

 

How many Starlink satellites are there in space?

 

As of July 24, 2022, SpaceX has launched 53 satellites in what was the 33rd Starlink launch of 2022. This follows a successful launch on July 22, 2022, in which 46 Starlink satellites were sent into orbit.

 

To date, the company has launched nearly 3,000 satellites into low Earth orbit. Starlink aims to provide high-speed Internet coverage in remote and rural areas, but some users complain of intermittent signals.

 

How much does Starlink cost?

 

Starlink offers the following three internet packages:

 

1-Starlink Internet :

This package is geared toward residential use and costs $110 per month, in addition to a one-time device fee of $599.

 

2- Starlink Business: 

The Business package provides twice the antenna capacity available in residential packages, in addition to faster internet speeds. It costs $500 per month with a one-time equipment fee of $2,500.

 

3-Starlink RV :

In June 2022, the US Federal Communications Commission allowed SpaceX to use Starlink with moving vehicles, including recreational vehicles, airlines, ships, and trucks. So, people on the move can now access Starlink RV service for $135 per month plus $599 for hardware.

 

How do you subscribe to Starlink?

 

To request the service, the user must enter his address on the Starlink website to check the availability of the service in his area. If the service is not available in their area, Starlink will provide an approximate date when it will arrive. Most users remain on the waiting list for several months, and most waiting lists have been postponed to early 2023.