Musk's Starlink is coming to India: How does it work?
What's the story
Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing to launch its high-speed satellite internet service, Starlink, in India.
The company has announced agreements with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio for the same.
The partnership is dependent on SpaceX securing the necessary approvals from the India government to provide Starlink in the country.
Once approved, Airtel and Jio are expected to offer the service through their retail outlets and online platforms.
Technology
How does Starlink provide internet access?
Starlink's service works through a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, transmitting data through space using radio waves.
Ground stations send signals to orbiting satellites, which relay the data back to users on Earth.
This way, users can enjoy seamless streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and more even in remote regions.
Starlink is especially useful for rural and geographically isolated areas where traditional broadband services are unreliable or non-existent.
Service details
Starlink's expected performance in India
Once operational in India, Starlink is expected to provide download speeds between 25-220 Mbps and upload speeds between 5-20 Mbps.
The latency is expected to be between 25-50 milliseconds on land, which would make for a seamless experience for video streaming, online gaming, and virtual meetings.
However, pricing details for the service in India are still to be confirmed by SpaceX.
Cost comparison
Starlink's US subscription plans as a pricing reference
In the US, Starlink has a number of subscription plans that could give an idea of what it might cost in India.
The Residential plan for home users is priced at $120 per month while the Roam plan for travelers and those working on the move is priced at $165 per month.
The Business plan with higher speeds starts at $500 per month and goes up to $5,000 per month.