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SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

zdnet.com

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Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#311

Post by mlindner »

nwah1 wrote: post #242
oceanplexian wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Starlink accounted for 69% of SpaceX revenue pre-merger and is speculated to be already profitable including launch costs. And this is all before they launch a phone or something, or replace global fiber interconnect with a lower latency space-based alternative, replace all forms of space based telecommunications (TV, Satellite Radio, etc). Starlink is a $1T+ business without even getting creative.

For context, that revenue was $18.67 billion in 2025, with a net loss of $4.94 billion. And we must remember that 6G is in the final stages of development, which has peak speeds of 1 Tbps.

Starlink by itself does not have a net loss.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#312

Post by Cyberdog »

oceanplexian wrote: post #234
kevinkeller wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't understand the huge upside for Starlink outside of Africa or India, where they have India is rapidly expanding fiber internet connectivity, even in rural areas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharat_Broadband_Network In addition, 4G/5G coverage is extensive: https://www.ookla.com/articles/india-mobile-connectivity-1h2... See India in this 5G global coverage map: https://www.ookla.com/articles/5g-map-2026 The…

Starlink accounted for 69% of SpaceX revenue pre-merger and is speculated to be already profitable including launch costs. And this is all before they launch a phone or something, or replace global fiber interconnect with a lower latency space-based alternative, replace all forms of space based telecommunications (TV, Satellite Radio, etc). Starlink is a $1T+ business without even getting creative.

Will sending bits to space and back really be faster than fiber? How?

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#313

Post by moralestapia »

titzer wrote: post #199
Polizeiposaune wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It won't be centuries. starlink satellites are in low orbits and will deorbit in a few years at most if bricked; to stay in orbit, they use ion thrusters to counter drag from the very uppermost reaches of the atmosphere. https://ai-solutions.com/newsroom/why-starlink-is-lowering-s...

When satellites smash into each other at high velocity, they explode. Some of that debris will end up in higher orbits and linger.

Nope, if it goes up it will go down even faster.

Orbits are about speed. Two things colliding cannot have debris coming out at a faster velocity than either of them.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#314

Post by prescriptivist »

Noaidi wrote: post #203
prescriptivist wrote: post #25

I spent last weekend under some of the darkest sky you'll find in the eastern US. Miles from cell service. I had a starlink portable with me and it was nice to get some service and stay in touch, but to watch the sky is to see satellites everywhere. I've spent a dozen or so weeklong stretches in the last few years completely off grid, only connection being bringing up the inReach once a day. At this point I actually…

> I'd love to be rid of all of it, but that's not how the world works today. Why do we think the human made world is out of our control? Learned helplessness? We could stop this. We do not need Satrlink. Starlink will fail. And this will be more likely the more satellites they put up[1][2]. Or the more wars we get in. It will not be hard to cause a major destruction of all Starlink satellites [3]. [1] https://outersp…

If you wish to stop it, then stop it.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#315

Post by mplewis »

dtagames wrote: post #302

I just finished a long RV trip and I can tell you it's hard to underestimate the importance of internet access (which also means Wi-Fi calling and access to maps and weather) across our entire, enormous nation. It's important not only for individuals but even more for businesses. Despite cell phone company ads with handsome celebrities in the desert, cell phones actually do not work in many places. But people do need…

we should lay fiber about it, not do this wasteful atmosphere polluting bullshit

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#316

Post by mplewis »

vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #226
senderista wrote: post #206

Will this be the last generation to remember the night sky?

If you don't take long exposures, the satellites won't cause you much trouble seeing the stars. Regular light pollution is the problem.

Well, yeah, but my problem is with the long exposures that I'm trying to get.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#318

Post by nazcan »

mplewis wrote: post #315
dtagames wrote: post #302

I just finished a long RV trip and I can tell you it's hard to underestimate the importance of internet access (which also means Wi-Fi calling and access to maps and weather) across our entire, enormous nation. It's important not only for individuals but even more for businesses. Despite cell phone company ads with handsome celebrities in the desert, cell phones actually do not work in many places. But people do need…

we should lay fiber about it, not do this wasteful atmosphere polluting bullshit

Just a choice of polluting the ground or the air.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#319

Post by rebolek »

dtagames wrote: post #302

I just finished a long RV trip and I can tell you it's hard to underestimate the importance of internet access (which also means Wi-Fi calling and access to maps and weather) across our entire, enormous nation. It's important not only for individuals but even more for businesses. Despite cell phone company ads with handsome celebrities in the desert, cell phones actually do not work in many places. But people do need…

If your trip to desert is worth polluting whole low orbit and high atmosphere is debatable. Same goes for hypothetical business there. Maybe building towers would be a better idea in long term.

Re: SpaceX wants to launch 100k more Starlink satellites for 100x the bandwidth

#320

Post by up2isomorphism »

dtagames wrote: post #302

I just finished a long RV trip and I can tell you it's hard to underestimate the importance of internet access (which also means Wi-Fi calling and access to maps and weather) across our entire, enormous nation. It's important not only for individuals but even more for businesses. Despite cell phone company ads with handsome celebrities in the desert, cell phones actually do not work in many places. But people do need…

This is a very wasteful way of getting communications to somewhat compensate the lack of competition in US telco market.
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