Elon Musk's SpaceX has completed its first Starlink satellite constellation aimed at direct-to-cell phone connectivity, making the service fully operational.
What Happened: Making the announcement, Musk revealed that the current bandwidth per beam is approximately 10Mb, with future constellations expected to enhance this capability.
The completion of this constellation was made possible by launching 20 Starlink satellites via the Falcon 9 rocket.
The first Starlink satellite direct to cell phone constellation is now complete.
The first Starlink satellite direct to cell phone constellation is now complete.This initiative is part of Starlink's broader mission to extend global Internet coverage, particularly in regions where traditional connectivity poses challenges.This will enable unmodified cellphones to have Internet connectivity in remote areas.Bandwidth per beam is only ~10Mb, but future constellations will be much more capable. - Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 5, 2024
Shedding light on Starlink's performance, Australian consumer watchdog, ACCC, revealed that SpaceX's satellite constellation delivered better results than local rival NBN's Sky Muster service.
While Starlink delivered average download speeds and latency of 470 Mbps and 29.8 milliseconds, NBN's service managed only 111 Mbps and 664.9 milliseconds, respectively.
Why It Matters: The recent operational status of Starlink's satellite constellation follows a series of strategic developments.
In late November, SpaceX secured a commercial license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its Starlink Direct-to-Cell service. This license permits SpaceX to operate its Gen2 Starlink satellites for non-geostationary orbit fixed-satellite services, marking a pivotal step in expanding satellite-based mobile connectivity.
Earlier, in October, NASA endorsed the initial deployment of 400 Starlink satellites closer to Earth. This move is part of a study to assess the impact on travel to and from the International Space Station (ISS). NASA's support underscores the potential benefits of deploying satellites at lower altitudes.
Additionally, Musk has indicated that the third generation of Starlink satellites will significantly improve Internet speeds, offering multi-gigabit bandwidth. These advancements are expected to be launched on SpaceX's larger Starship vehicle, promising a tenfold increase in bandwidth and reduced latency.
SpaceX is also reportedly preparing to launch a tender offer that values the company at $250 billion. While the company is private, investors can leverage Destiny Tech100 Inc. (NYSE: DXYZ) and Cathie Wood's Ark Venture Fund (NASDAQ: ARKVX) to participate in the Musk-led space company's growth.