Submitted by ethereal3xp t3_117j7t7 in Futurology
Comments
ethereal3xp OP t1_j9bxur8 wrote
>SpaceX's Starlink division has invited some potential users to try a "Global Roaming" service for $200 a month, saying the new plan "allows your Starlink to connect from almost anywhere on land in the world."
[deleted] t1_j9bycdz wrote
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[deleted] t1_j9bydf6 wrote
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UniversalMomentum t1_j9bzphg wrote
I think Starlink will generally have problems competing with cellulars never ending growth and speed increases. There just aren't that many people in the world that need the service AND can afford it and the demographics of people who travel globally and need starlink also seem small.
When you look at their total subscribers, the business model does not look good at all. All that work and maintenance for like 400-500k users?
I think it's actually more useful as a military tool than a consumer product because that's where you can get people to afford expensive communications in remote area they mostly overwise would not need.
Plus cellular will just keep getting better and cable and fiber will keep expanding, so the most unique use is probably military, not global roaming.
ethereal3xp OP t1_j9c1zq0 wrote
Some good points
Also for someone who travels a lot (and can afford it)... this service could come handy
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FuturologyBot t1_j9c30sx wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/ethereal3xp:
>SpaceX's Starlink division has invited some potential users to try a "Global Roaming" service for $200 a month, saying the new plan "allows your Starlink to connect from almost anywhere on land in the world."
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/117j7t7/starlinks_global_roaming_promises_worldwide/j9bxur8/
craeftsmith t1_j9c58c5 wrote
What you are describing is generally what killed the first iteration of the Iridium satellite business. They provided service to places where there weren't any subscribers.
Royal_Intention_8282 t1_j9c6ben wrote
It’s pointless outside of rural areas. Almost all major carriers offer international plans for like $10 more a month. For everything else there’s wifi and Wi-Fi calling.
TekJansen69 t1_j9c7kcw wrote
Until you want to access a news source or website that Elon disagrees with.
upyoars t1_j9c8djq wrote
How does cellular compete with starlink when starlink sats are superior?
NickOnMars t1_j9cbjcb wrote
When I'm able to live a life on a big yacht, I'll buy this service and start a trip on sea.
Stealthy_Snow_Elf t1_j9chrt7 wrote
5G doesn’t even work, bc corpos can’t actually build anything right. I’m sure this will be just as shitty
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Washout22 t1_j9czvf0 wrote
The reservation are based on capacity where you live due to constellation density and downlink capacity.
Washout22 t1_j9d0gaj wrote
Capex of 5 billion a year and revenue of 25 billion when the constellation is complete.
They already have over a million users.
It's expected that starlink will carry 50% of global rural internet access once it's complete.
Each v2 satellite is an additional 480 gbps.
The amount of global customers will be in the billions once its scaled. The price is coming down.
This price point is for global access, it's much cheaper for stationary access, as the price is country dependent.
It's a huge money maker.
Washout22 t1_j9d0o4m wrote
Except that hasn't happened, so...
TekJansen69 t1_j9d2exi wrote
It's happened on Twitter.
And he's banned Ukraine from using starlink for their drones.
sodrrl t1_j9d2hdm wrote
Only on land? That's pretty limiting.
RatRaceSobreviviente t1_j9d2ks3 wrote
So.... exactly like any other ISP?
Atworkwasalreadytake t1_j9d33m6 wrote
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.
Washout22 t1_j9d3rcm wrote
What was banned on Twitter?
Spacex banned use of offensive weapons using starlink. Not defensive.
[deleted] t1_j9d59se wrote
Or access to your military drones
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upyoars t1_j9d685q wrote
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.
CandidateNo1172 t1_j9d87xz wrote
Commercial and governmental usage will account for the majority of revenue for Starlink in the long run. Every ship, train, plane, work truck, semi, and military unit will have this. Consumers are only the tip of the iceberg.
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TekJansen69 t1_j9d8uwr wrote
If it's operating inside your own country, it's defensive.
TekJansen69 t1_j9d8x9q wrote
Or, because he hates America.
Washout22 t1_j9daphp wrote
Which means they can use traditional line of sight communication.
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Atworkwasalreadytake t1_j9df398 wrote
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.
set-271 t1_j9dgvsa wrote
I dunno...my whole point of getting a yacht would be to escape it all, including the internet.
maciver6969 t1_j9dni6d wrote
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.
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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.
sunplaysbass t1_j9dq1gc wrote
Unless you’re using it to not get murdered - that against TOS.
Unavailablename2 t1_j9dq8j9 wrote
What are the current challenges for military tools that this would resolve?
powerMiserOz t1_j9dq8l7 wrote
Not sure, but I'd imagine it would work near land as well (within a few kms), depends on beam width. Which would suit most people of smaller yachts most of the time, not great for the middle of the ocean though, but I believe there are other services for that.
powerMiserOz t1_j9dqfsn wrote
Don't forget developing countries. Some parts of the world don't even have viable mobile networks as yet. This will be a great alternative for them to waiting a few years for some sort of fibre/copper network connection for high bandwidth usage needs.
DoktorVonKvantum t1_j9dqkmx wrote
Hmm, I wonder if ice would count as land. Or maybe everything below passenger airplanes does.
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Koksny t1_j9drmau wrote
Not sure about that, the service price would have to decrease tenfold, to be even in range of shared community access in developing countries. Unfortunately not many retail customers in a developing country will be able to pay 100$+ a month for internet access.
Besides, most developing countries have surprisingly robust LTE/5G connectivity, since there was never opportunity to make a wired infrastructure, while services like mobile banking are extremely common.
powerMiserOz t1_j9dtxxl wrote
Some do not all have 5G LTE. There are applications in private security and government in developing countries that don't even have functioning mobile networks yet (PNG springs to mind). But they do need network connected surveilance cameras across sites. Starlink is a good application of this.
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Hornman84 t1_j9e3iqy wrote
Developing countries cannot afford 200$ a month in most cases.
Tnuvu t1_j9e525a wrote
this is the way
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Washout22 t1_j9ecgza wrote
Because they launch more satellites every week, and when there is enough capacity in your area they'll notify you.
It's not rocket science.
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VincentGrinn t1_j9edsfw wrote
not when you see the fucking price of marine starlinks you wont https://www.starlink.com/maritime
phatelectribe t1_j9eervg wrote
No, the point is to get away from the great unwashed. It’s so you can go to nice places but don’t have to share a hotel.
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Washout22 t1_j9eh04d wrote
Huh? It's available almost everywhere. The only places it's not available to everyone are area with high demand. Where are you?
They didn't promise anything. Starlink is still being deployed. It's in beta.
MadNhater t1_j9eihg6 wrote
Renting hotel rooms sounds cheaper than a yacht.
The whole point of a yacht is the get the ladies nice and tipsy topside then what are they gonna do? Say no? Ha.
jeffroddit t1_j9ejo1q wrote
Yeah but thats for super mega yachts. There are tons of folks sailing around on "house in the suburbs" yachts who are using the RV starlink. Pretty much all the sailing youtube channels have it now, with boats all around the world.
jayjayhxc t1_j9ek1wq wrote
I haven’t had an ISP provide anything they have promised ever in my life, so safe to say this will have the same issues..
Ovlsnaitan t1_j9ekjbq wrote
I mean… it kinda is
CountOmar t1_j9emlwm wrote
It's the implication
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Mad_currawong t1_j9emrq5 wrote
*Crimea not included - and u need more words to comment in this sub soo I’ll extenuate my bullshit
VintageChemistry t1_j9enqyb wrote
Is it possible Starlink could become the No.1 Global ISP? Or is there a fundamental disadvantage to using satellite internet Vs fiber/wire that makes Starlink a got-to only when there isn't an alternative?
tmtyl_101 t1_j9eqal3 wrote
Sure. Because its not as if Russia is systematically targeting civilian and military infrastructure or anything.
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Beatlegease t1_j9ewajg wrote
Yeah let's make statements against technological progress, looking at how things are going that makes so much sense!
Thor1872 t1_j9f1qgp wrote
Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, has commented on the information that the SpaceX company has allegedly limited the Starlink Internet access for Ukraine, which it uses to control drones. The minister stated that as of now there are no problems with the Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
Thor1872 t1_j9f1thu wrote
Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, has commented on the information that the SpaceX company has allegedly limited the Starlink Internet access for Ukraine, which it uses to control drones. The minister stated that as of now there are no problems with the Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
Thor1872 t1_j9f2ka6 wrote
Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, has commented on the information that the SpaceX company has allegedly limited the Starlink Internet access for Ukraine, which it uses to control drones. The minister stated that as of now there are no problems with the Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
TekJansen69 t1_j9f3m72 wrote
Well, that's a relief!
ethereal3xp OP t1_j9fa5by wrote
I think for those that travel a lot. It's a no brainer.
Once high speed travel....becomes more local transit like. This type of global ISP will be in serious demand
Poncho_au t1_j9fff22 wrote
It’s fundamentally impossible they’ll be the #1 carried carrier globally. That’s due to physics. A wireless communication medium cannot be even competitive in comparison to a fibre optic communication medium so in high population density areas that fibre makes sense they’ll have low customer counts.
In rural areas though they could absolutely become the #1 ISP.
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ethereal3xp OP t1_j9fhrog wrote
I disagree
Many people (after covid years).... are not going out as much
Even if they are. Half the time try to locate/leverage wifi network
My point is... not having the fastest cellular speed wont be a deal break for some. (As long as it is not prehistoric speed of 2g or 3g)
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jfk_sfa t1_j9ftzt3 wrote
But you still want to stream some movies and shows every now an then. Might as well put that media room on the yacht to use.
duckduckohno t1_j9fvod0 wrote
"You too can help a child, with the gift of the internet, for just the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee a day. "
Washout22 t1_j9g8kul wrote
Where the drones work without starlink...
pm_me_yer_boobs_86 t1_j9gkj8x wrote
Elon’s companies have a way of promising things that they can’t deliver
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Samwarez t1_j9gtrsh wrote
forget developing countries, there are large areas in the US with no wired infrastructure and poor LTE/5G coverage. Im looking into one of these for my moms house.
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IamMarsPluto t1_j9gulw5 wrote
How do you have “low latency” and “satellite” lol doesn’t really work like that
Frowdo t1_j9gvriy wrote
As of now, not we've never had issues.
Mad_currawong t1_j9h0wfy wrote
That’s a separate issue, they aren’t allowed to operate in Crimea https://www.techarp.com/military/elon-musk-blocked-starlink-crimea/?amp=1
powerMiserOz t1_j9hcm5j wrote
Same also applies in Australia. We have the same issue, our government rolled out a national internet service. The wireless service exists, but is oversubscribed and slow. Starnet is already starting to be of concern.
Cdn_citizen t1_j9ihsad wrote
Starlink still sucks in urban areas, until they fix that it probably won’t be ‘Every ship, train, plane, work truck, semi, and military unit.
Also this thing is still huge so it won’t work on cars and you have to be pretty stationary to use it effectively. I feel like this will just be replacing those big old satellite dishes from the 90s
Reddit-runner t1_j9iin33 wrote
You can still purchase the cheaper fixed versions and then "internet pool" with your neighbours.
Sure, it's not achievable for the 1$/day folks, but there are plenty of people far better off than that but still don't have Internet access so far.
Reddit-runner t1_j9iit49 wrote
>I feel like this will just be replacing those big old satellite dishes from the 90s
Basically yes.
But look how many there are!
Reddit-runner t1_j9ij3cb wrote
>I call vapoware what it is
Ask the Ukranians how much 'vapour ware" Starlink is to them.
And most likely all the urgent shipments to Ukraine were one of the reasons why your reservation was not fulfilled.
Reddit-runner t1_j9iji9k wrote
>Elon’s companies have a way of promising things that they can’t deliver
When it comes to SpaceX they truly do deliver.
But "impossible" things like landing a rocket and high-speed satellite internet do sometimes stretch their ambitious timelines.
Hornman84 t1_j9ijtf4 wrote
I don't say it's a bad thing overall. Promoting it as a solution for developing countries is just not right.
Reddit-runner t1_j9ijwkz wrote
>Until you want to access a news source or website that Elon disagrees with.
Ironically Musk was the biggest boo-man of the Internet last year when he refused to close access to sites some American politicians wanted to remove.
He really put a foot down for net neutrality.
Well, at least so far.
Reddit-runner t1_j9ik1lh wrote
It is ONE of many solutions for a whole host of different problems.
Hornman84 t1_j9ikzit wrote
It's not what I meant. Of course this can only solve access to internet. Duh! It's still not really affordable for a lot of people.
Reddit-runner t1_j9iphu7 wrote
>It's still not really affordable for a lot of people.
Look at the average income of many Africans. There millions of people and small companies which can afford a shared access.
Hornman84 t1_j9iune5 wrote
The average tells nothing. A good average can mean, that an individual earns a shizload of money, and many others have next to nothing.
Simple maths...
Shared access is actually a very good idea.
Reddit-runner t1_j9iv245 wrote
Right. Then look up the median income. This will tell you better how many possible customers there are.
>Shared access is actually a very good idea.
Thanks. But it's not my own idea. It's what I gathered from Starlink presentations and info material.
Hornman84 t1_j9j58x2 wrote
I didn't say it's your idea.
You are still generalizing. Not everywhere in Africa people could afford it. Africa is not one country.
Of course it might be. solution for a lot of people. In Africa, there won't be a lot, even though the need is pretty high.
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