Re:Starlink is now Accepting General Pre-orders
by lotsofpulp on Wednesday February 17, 2021 @10:55PM
(#26175533)
What is the latency? I find there is a material difference in my internet experience with 5ms fiber connection vs 100ms+ cable connection. I imagine itβs worse for satellite links due to the limitations of physics.
Re:Starlink is now Accepting General Pre-orders
by tgsovlerkhgsel on Wednesday February 17, 2021 @11:00PM
(#26175576)
20 ms was cited elsewhere in the thread. Unlike older satellite Internet solutions that use geostationary satellites (~36000 km altitude), this uses satellites in low earth orbit (~550 km altitude, with additional, slightly lower and higher levels planned).
Re:Starlink is now Accepting General Pre-orders
by lotsofpulp on Wednesday February 17, 2021 @11:04PM
(#26175612)
That would be a welcome surprise if it delivers and finally gives people an alternative to the one wired option they usually have.
They likely have to price it a bit above wired connections just to keep load manageable in dense areas, but it puts an upper bound on how badly monopolist incumbents can treat their customers.
While I don't think it will actually replace cable/fiber, I think it will drive prices down and service quality/customer treatment up, so its existence is a huge benefit even for people in populated areas that will never actually use it.