Last Updated on 22/11/2021 by Riya
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently confirmed Starlink satellite internet’s ground stations will not be required at every place. This will aid in data transport that is close to even faster, beyond the speed of light.
Musk was replying to a tweet of Internet rocket scientist named Scott Manley, who emphasized the necessity of downlink stations in broadband networks, to which Musk responded that the Starlink satellites will offer inter-satellite laser links, avoiding the requirement for a local downlink.
Manley then inquired as to whether there was a meaningful difference aside from the lasers, and whether they required additional onboard processing for packet routing, or if they were created with sufficient bandwidth before laser interlinks could be implemented.
Although, musk denied considering Processing as an issue. Because laser links eliminate ground station impediments, data can move via space from Sydney to London at a 40 percent faster rate as compared to fiber and across shorter distances.
However, does the data transfer can be done at the speed of light? to some extent. Light travel at a pace of 3,00,000 km/s. Infrared light is utilized to transmit data since it is the wavelength employed on long-distance optic fibers, which travel at roughly 2,00,000 km/s (the speed of light through glass).
Users must consider the likelihood that Internet traffic and data will pass via auxiliary network components including network routers and optical transceivers, slowing the average speed. Moreover, Musk’s Starlink hopes to bring broadband Internet to locations where there is currently no network.
According to Starlink’s website, Starlink Satellite will minimize latency to the point where it will be feasible to obtain speeds not generally possible with standard satellite Internet. Latency increases as satellites get further away from Earth, leading in poor performance for tasks including video calls and online gaming.
Starlink satellites, on the other hand, are 60 times closer to the Earth than normal satellites. Musk also indicated previously this month that the Starlink satellite broadband service would be coming to India shortly and that the company is awaiting regulatory approval.
Hence, if everything goes right then Indian users will also be able to enjoy the fast satellite service of Starlink.
