These days, access to high-speed internet is a must-have. Connection to virtual platforms gives unlimited possibilities and it is hard to imagine not being able to use the Internet whenever we want to. In this article i will present to you the idea of Low-Earth orbit satellites that can provide milions of people with well-working broadcast.
Of course, we are already familiar with the Starlink project by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk , but this is only the beginning when it comes to revolutionising satellite internet.Companies such as the already mentioned SpaceX and others like Amazon or OneWeb have plans on launching dozens of devices that would reinforce the 4g and enable a great access to Internet from everyplace on earth (even on planes and boats !) for an affordable price.
Of course it is a huge investment and the payback would be spread over many years, although I believe that for such huge companies this will not be a problem and they will be able to take the risk. Amazon in its “Project Kuiper” involves launching over 3 thousand sattelites creating a big competition for already existing starlink.
But what does it accually change ? Satellites themselves are getting cheaper and what we are witnessing right now could be a revolution in the mobile phone industry and internet providers. these brands will create a whole new market and be a huge competitor to mobile networks. Low-orbit satellites will be a great invention also in the field of gaming , because the delay in the games would decrease, giving a better expirience for the customers. Nowadays everyone uses classic solutions, but who knows maybe someday we won’t be using terrestrial Internet at all.
Although it is a brilliant idea, there are a few obstacles on the road to success. I have already mentioned the money aspect. Buying new machines that need to be launched in space is of course a huge expense, but there are other important aspects except from money and the internet. The SpaceTrash problem comes to the fore. Sending thousands of satellites into orbit can cause a concentration of waste in that area, which could lead to objects falling toward the earth’s surface. Another thing is that it could possibly hinder the work of astronomers , as light pollution would increase significantly.
In such cases deployment of new equipment to the space zone should be regulated by law. This is an aspect that is difficult for me to assess, because on the one hand it is a no-man’s land , although intense action in this sphere can affect the welfare of all countries and our ecosystem, even if it’s purpose is to help mankind and make our lives easier.
In my opinon , this idea would be great for isolated countries/islands or household’s far away from bigger cities. For me it is an interesting topic and I would love to see your opinion on it in the comments section.
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