upyoars t1_j9c8djq wrote on February 20, 2023 at 9:27 PM

Reply to comment by UniversalMomentum in Starlink’s “Global Roaming” promises worldwide access for $200 a month by ethereal3xp

How does cellular compete with starlink when starlink sats are superior?

Atworkwasalreadytake t1_j9d33m6 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 1:06 AM

The person you replied to mentions cellulars “never ending growth and speed increases.” You’re referring to a comparison right now, they are talking about the near future.

upyoars t1_j9d685q wrote on February 21, 2023 at 1:30 AM

but how does cellular have "never ending growth and speed increases".. SpaceX launches like 50 Starlink satellites a week... i dont see anything like that from cellular companies.

Atworkwasalreadytake t1_j9df398 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 2:38 AM

That says more about your lack of knowledge than anything else.

Cell companies are all in high gear with 5G rollout and 6G development.

Do the new SpaceX launches represent newer faster tech or is it just about finishing the constellation rollout?

SpaceX and Cellular really aren't even competitors. In business we'd call them substitutes.

maciver6969 t1_j9dni6d wrote on February 21, 2023 at 3:47 AM

I agree with you mostly, but you do miss some valid points. And you all assume that everywhere in the USA and the world has good cell coverage and reasonable internet. We had a verizon tower fail 3 years ago and it is finally being worked on NOW. Since it failed I get 1-2 bar at home and no high speed internet for long before it crawls again.

It doesnt matter that they are working fast if they dont maintain the service and actually work in the area you live. So rural areas get fucked, while other areas have "over-coverage". Hell look at the gulf coast, if you are not in New Orleans you dont get priority repair. Lake Charles was out with some services for 5 months after the last hurricane. Then you have to factor in terrain, if you live in the mountains cell coverage is spotty even in california. Communities like Anza and Aguanga fought for 15 years to get more towers in their area and some still have no internet or cell access.

All this has to be taken in when saying cell are in high gear, while true it doesnt represent anything beside the "priority" locations. It is hard to take them at good faith on their expansions when they have never met any of the promises to so many communities.

I agree cell and starlink are not direct competitiors. The cell service is great for where they have a fuckton of towers available and where maintained, but the rest of the nation is just shit outta luck with them at least in the medium term timeframe, while starlink already has a working system that they are improving and filling gaps almost weekly.

I have a different view on the cell and fiber and all the new tech that has been promised to our area now for over 10 years. At&t setup fiber in my area, so did the Verison Fios system, then just STOPPED expanding at all. I live less than a mile from the Fiber optic trunk line, and they send me mail every month or two offering fiber but then come to the time to actually come install they call and say Nope.