SpaceX, headed by Elon Musk, has been in the headlines for a while now. One of their most recent projects is Starlink, a satellite internet service that is said to offer high-speed internet to everyone on Earth.

The much-hyped Starlink project is a constellation of satellites that provide internet coverage to areas where terrestrial internet is not available. It is designed to provide high-speed, low-latency internet to users and has been praised by early adopters for its performance. The service is not without its critics, however, who have raised concerns about its potential impact on the night sky.

How do you sign up for Starlink?

Those looking to sign up for this service need to first check if it is available in the area. For this, there's an option to enter your address on the Starlink website. If it's not available, the site will provide an approximate date of when the service will arrive in the region.

For most users, the wait time could be months or even longer, with the wait time for some regions going up to early 2023.

Requests for the Starlink service are currently being fulfilled on a first-come, first-reserved basis in each coverage area. So, if there are already a lot of Starlink users in your locality, you may have to wait for coverage to improve before you can use the service.

To reserve your spot and avoid any further delays, you can pre-order on Starlink's website which requires a refundable deposit of $99.

How does it work?

The satellite system works by connecting the devices to low-Earth orbit satellites, which will then beam the internet signal back down to Earth. This means that Starlink could provide high-speed internet access anywhere on the planet, including the remote regions where traditional internet infrastructure doesn't exist.

Is it easy to install?

The average setup time for the equipment is five minutes, but this could take longer depending on where you need to place the dish for it to have a clear view of the sky. A technician is not needed for set up, but you will need to make sure that the Starlink dish has a good vantage point to receive high-speed internet.

Is the internet speed reliable?

Starlink satellite internet service promises speeds of up to 200mbps. However, user reports seem to vary in terms of the actual internet speed experienced as well as reliability, according to CNET.

Some users have complained of speeds significantly lower than what was advertised, while others have faced no issues with reliability. The consensus, at this time, is that more testing is needed to ascertain the true speed and reliability of the service.

How much does it cost?

SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service has increased its monthly price to $110, with a one-time fee of $599 for the satellite dish and Wi-Fi router, as reported by PC Magazine.

The company is also offering a Premium service that promises faster speed and steadier connection, which comes at a hefty price of $500 per month, in addition to the one-time fee of $2,500 for the Starlink dish.

Starlink Satellite Internet
Elon musk Spacex