Starlink to Ensure Internet Access in Gaza Despite Blackout
In the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine, Gaza City recently faced an internet blackout, meaning millions of people were unable to use social media or even share their situation with the world.
However, Elon Musk comes to the rescue by assuring the people of the region that his Starlink satellite network is working to help internationally recognized organizations providing aid in Gaza.
Musk responded on X, formerly Twitter, to a question from US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. So what is Starlink, how does it work, and how can satellites deliver internet to consumers on the ground. Here are all the details.
Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. [ComStar]
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2023
Starlink Satellite – brings Internet to every corner
Starlink is a satellite internet service that serves underserved areas, most of which are located in rural areas of different countries. Mobile phone operators find it less attractive to put up their towers in places where the population is less, and that’s where satellite internet services like Starlink seize the opportunity. Starlink can provide internet speed up to 150 Mbps, which is faster than any broadband or fiber optic internet can provide in lower areas.
The best way to explain Starlink’s Internet service is that it transmits the Internet through radio signals, not cables. But contrary to what many of you may think, Starlink satellites operate in low Earth orbit, which means you can get faster internet speeds on the ground because they are close to the ground. Satellites transmit radio signals to base stations on Earth, resulting in high-speed data delivery over a network.
Starlink has already put thousands of satellites into orbit and plans to put more than 40,000 satellites there to boost internet speeds up to 1 Gbps in the coming years.
