Starlink Internet Service by Elon Musk May Soon be Available in India
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, announced his intention to introduce Starlink, the satellite internet service, to India after his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US. Starlink is currently available in more than 56 countries.
Starlink is the world’s first constellation of satellites that uses low Earth orbit to provide broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calling and more.
“Hopefully, we’re looking forward to bringing Starlink to India as well. Starlink Internet, which I think can be incredibly useful for remote or rural villages in India,” Elon Musk told reporters.
Starlink’s goal is to provide super-fast internet with minimal delays to places where normal internet options are not good. It offers faster speeds and better connections to homes and businesses.
How Starlink works
The Starlink constellation consists of thousands of small satellites, each weighing about 260 kilograms (570 pounds). These satellites are located in a relatively low orbit, about 550 kilometers (340 mi) above the Earth’s surface. By operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Starlink is able to achieve significantly lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellite internet systems.
Simply put, the large number of satellites placed above the Earth’s surface and their strategic location help to ensure a wide coverage area and reduce the delay of Internet connections by providing users with fast and low-latency Internet service.
“With Starlink, users can engage in activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet. Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency service is made possible by the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in low Earth orbit,” the Starlink website reads.
Why Starlink is important
Starlink can have a significant impact on India’s digital infrastructure. India, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, struggles to connect remote and rural areas due to the difficulties and costs associated with installing traditional Internet infrastructure.
By deploying thousands of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Starlink provides reliable Internet connectivity with minimal latency to these underserved regions of India.
