SpaceX has announced that its Starlink Aviation service will be available for delivery in 2023.
The company says the service will provide passengers with high-speed, low-latency Wi‑Fi from the moment they board the aircraft.
Starlink Aviation promises speeds up to 350 Mbps and latency as low as 20 ms. With that level of performance, SpaceX says passengers will be able to make video calls, stream high-definition content, and even play online games while in flight.
Unlike many current in-flight internet systems that depend on limited ground-based terminals, Starlink delivers global connectivity through a constellation of more than 3,000 low-Earth orbit satellites. This network structure enables more consistent coverage, including over oceans and polar regions.
“Because the satellites operate in low-Earth orbit, there are always satellites overhead or nearby to provide a strong signal at high latitudes and in polar regions — unlike geostationary satellites,” SpaceX explains.
By contrast, geostationary satellite services typically offer between 30 Mbps and 100 Mbps, and real-world speeds can drop significantly as more passengers use the connection. The greater distance to geostationary satellites also increases latency, making them unsuitable for many interactive applications.
Ground-to-air connectivity solutions often top out at about 10 Mbps per flight. When that bandwidth is divided among many users, performance can degrade to levels comparable with a dial-up connection.
Early airline partners include Hawaiian Airlines and JSX. In a recent test flight, Starlink delivered roughly 100 Mbps on a JSX route between Burbank and San José, California.
In July, the FCC approved SpaceX’s request to offer Starlink connectivity to moving vehicles, including boats, trucks, and RVs, clearing the way for broader mobile use.
(Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash)
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