Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based Internet provider, will double in speed “later this year,” according to a tweet from Elon Musk, posted as a response to someone who had just received their Starlink beta kit (via CNET) The company currently promises speeds between 50 to 150 Mbps, and Musk specifically mentions a 300 Mbps target in his tweet.
Although 300 Mbps is not an unprecedented speed, it is faster than many people currently have access, especially in areas of low to medium population density that Musk talks about segmentation in a second tweet.
Speed will double to approximately 300 Mb / s and latency will drop to approximately 20 ms by the end of this year
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2021
Most of the Earth at the end of the year, all next year, so it’s about densifying the cover.
It is important to note that cell phones will always have an advantage in dense urban areas.
Satellites are best for areas of low to medium population density.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2021
In response, Elon also tells the person that the latency should also improve to about 20ms. In the screenshots of the speed test, its latency was 34 and 44ms, respectively, while the Starlink website says to wait between 20 and 40ms during the beta.
The speed increase and latency improvements should be a good surprise for anyone who pre-orders $ 100 from Starlink. However, it is well known that Elon’s promises about the future should be viewed with caution, especially if they are about deadlines. Still, it shows that SpaceX is trying to speed up Starlink and may be able to keep up with what’s available with a copper wire that goes to your home.