Starlink, the satellite internet of businessman Elon Musk will be usable by Guatemalans in 2023.
The difference of this internet with other services available in the country is that it offers higher speed and low latency, because it is supported by the largest constellation of satellites that operate in a low orbit around the Earth.
HOW DOES STARLINK WORK?
Apart from fiber optic internet services, which are commonly used in Guatemala, there are satellite internet services. Most of these come from unique geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at more than 35,000 km.
As a result, the round-trip data time between the user and the satellite, also known as “latency,” is high. This makes it hard to stream, play games online, make video calls, or do other data-intensive activities.
High latency interferes with the experience at the communication level, both in sending data and for users who are using the Internet at the time it occurs.
Since Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that orbit the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550 km, and cover the entire world, latency is considerably lower, around 20 milliseconds, compared to a higher average. to 600 milliseconds.
SPEED
The speed that Starlink promises, in principle, will be between 100 and 200 megabytes. According to the company, this will gradually increase until it reaches 1 Giga, with the launch of more satellites.
In Guatemala, the company Claro offers internet via satellite with 5G connections, while Tigo has a fiber optic network and also offers 5G speeds.
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FACILITY
Starlink is the first phased antenna available on the market. The installation kit includes the Starlink equipment, the Wi-Fi router, the power supply, the cables and the base.
The antenna can withstand extreme heat and cold, hail, sleet, heavy rain, and hurricane force winds, even rocket engines.
NO CONTRACT AND 30 DAY TRIAL
Without the need to sign a contract, Starlink users can try the service for 30 days and if they are not satisfied, they will receive a full refund of the equipment price.
TRAVEL WITH STARLINK
In addition to offering high speed and low latency, Guatemalans will be able to use the same service they have at home and move it to any location. An ideal choice for those who like to travel on the road.
HOW MUCH DOES STARLINK COST?
In Mexico the cost of the equipment is US$99 (about Q773), in addition, the monthly fee is around US$55 (about Q429.24). In Claro, the most expensive internet plan is around Q699 and in Tigo, Q500.
THE EFFECTS ON ASTRONOMY
When Musk and SpaceX announced in 2019 that they would send 12,000 satellites into space, it raised concerns in the scientific community regarding space debris, light pollution and astronomical observations.
According to a National Geographic magazine article, astrologers question the ethics of a single company “unilaterally changing the appearance of the night sky,” not to mention the dangers of light pollution, from bird deaths to impacts on the Earth. Human health.
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Astronomers have also raised concerns about the constellation’s effect on ground-based astronomy and how the “minibar-sized” satellites will add to an already crowded orbital environment.
Before starting the project, the low Earth orbit already had 5,000 satellites and only Starlink intends to triple that number; In addition, SpaceX is not the only company that is investing in space, since Amazon’s Kuiper Project intends to send 3,000 more satellites.
“Even at that altitude, debris can remain in orbit for a long time,” Flinders University researcher Alice Gorman warned on Twitter.
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Musk’s internet service will come to GT and thus differentiate itself from others