Global Telcos: What’s Starlink Got to Do With It?

Satellite internet technology is old news. This technology has been around for decades, meaning that many people have never had a life without satellite technology. Though satellite internet technology has undoubtedly played a massive role in telecommunications, the future of telco might look different.

Elon Musk’s Starlink might end up being the future of telco. Starlink, a satellite that provides internet access and telco globally, may become our new standard in the upcoming decades. While this sounds exciting, Starlink has issues that could soon harm the satellite broadband market. Despite this, Starlink could hold numerous overlooked benefits that make it worthwhile.

As we move toward the future of telco, it’s essential to have realistic expectations for what comes next. This article will describe everything to know about Starlink technology, including the trends that will shape the satellite broadband market in the future and the benefits and downsides of Starlink on telco.

What is Starlink?

Before diving into the possible outcomes of Starlink technology, it’s essential to ask: what is Starlink? Starlink, a venture by Elon Musk, was created to provide internet connections to virtually everyone globally. To accomplish this goal, Starlink implements a network of orbiting private satellites and provides internet speeds of 150Mbps, significantly higher than other providers.

How Does Starlink Work?

Now that you know the essential functions of Starlink, it’s time to ask: how does Starlink work? Starlink beams internet data through radio signals in a space vacuum like other satellite internet technologies. In simpler terms, a station on the planet helps broadcast internet signals to Starlink’s satellites, which relay data back to its users.

Starlink improves on past satellite technology because it aims to use low orbiting satellites that circle the planet 300 miles around its surface. Compared to providers like HughesNet, which orbit 22,000 miles above the earth, Starlink is revolutionary. Because of its shorter distance from the ground, Starlink could reach speeds of 300 Mbps in the future.

Starlink in Australia

As Starlink has grown more popular, many have asked: is Starlink available in Australia? Starlink is making waves across the globe, and Australia is no exception. Some parts of Australia, such as Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Hobart, and South and Western Australia, have access to Starlink’s internet services.

However, availability for Starlink is relatively limited in Australia, though there are plans to expand the technology to cover more areas. Because Starlink caters to people living in rural areas with a low population density, the service is ideal for many Australians outside of large cities. While Starlink is pricier than other Australian providers, the speed is an upgrade.

How Global Telcos Could Disrupt the Telecommunications Sector

Despite the numerous positives of Starlink, technology companies have noted that global telcos like Starlink could disrupt the telecommunications sector. Starlink’s configuration means that Musk might consider global expansion, which would likely cause massive disruptions in the telecommunications sector.

Though Musk has claimed that Starlink is not looking to compete with telecoms, there are still numerous risks associated with the global expansion of Starlink software. Starlink is already competitive with other telecommunications providers because of its rapidly growing services and users. Starlink offers users a telephone service and accessible prices for users with below-average income, making it a direct challenge to telecommunications operators.

Additionally, Starlink could harm telecom services as more satellites enter earth’s orbit. The more satellites Starlink adds, the more the role of satellite operators expands, meaning that Starlink will go beyond acting as an internet provider and explore other offerings that will take the attention away from telcos. As Starlink continues to expand, telecommunications services might face unpredictable struggles.

Competitive Threat or Opportunity? Issues and Benefits

The debate surrounding the potential impact of Starlink on telecommunications is full of benefits and downsides, without a surefire answer to which side is right. In some sense, Starlink could be a massive help for people living in areas where telecommunications connectivity is challenging. Rural communities commonly have little to no access to high-speed internet, meaning that Starlink’s unique close-to-ground design could transform the quality of their connection.

Starlink excels in this regard. People without access to a steady internet connection will struggle to get the necessary resources and materials for things like education and healthcare, and for many users, communicating without Starlink’s technology would be nearly impossible. For many people, Starlink is a new opportunity that could change everything.

However, it is vital to acknowledge the issues with Starlink. Starlink is arguably a threat to telco businesses because of its hope to expand outside of basic satellite internet capabilities.

The benefits of Starlink’s technology are evident in current world events, helping communities in ways that traditional telco cannot. For example, satellite telecommunications have faced threats with Starlink’s capabilities throughout the present war in Ukraine. Telecommunications alone would be insufficient to communicate news from Ukraine and seek valuable resources effectively. Because of Starlink, 150,000 Ukrainians could connect to the internet and combat Russian attacks on their terrestrial networks–which traditional telco is generally incapable of doing.

The rising popularity of Starlink could spell trouble for small and medium-sized telecoms and lead to new, costly competition. Though some telecoms are considering partnerships with other satellite providers, the issue of whether Starlink will continue to expand and outperform other internet speeds remains a threat to telecom’s future.

Wrapping Up

If you are living in rural communities, then Starlink could be an excellent solution for you. While the cellular dead zone age may be ending because of advanced systems like Starlink, telecoms could struggle to survive if Starlink continues expanding into new areas and technologies.

Starlink is a huge influencing factor in the future of global telcos, and the technology can potentially disrupt telecoms, leaving the future of telcos uncertain. While it will benefit some people, Starlink’s potential harm to telcos remains unknown for now. Though many Australians can benefit from Starlink’s advanced features and speed, telcos are holding on to the hope that Starlink will remain exclusive to rural areas struggling to access the internet.