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ZDNET's key takeaways
Starlink's 100,000 satellites will dwarf existing constellations.
When deployed, SpaceX promises the network will deliver gigabit speeds.
When it comes to satellite internet, Starlink has no real competition.
Do you like Starlink internet? If so, you'll love that its parent company, SpaceX, has applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to launch 100,000 third-generation (Gen3) Starlink satellites. The upshot for users? SpaceX promises to deliver "ultra-low-latency" multi-gigabit symmetrical broadband.
Now, I'll believe that when I see it. Today's advertised peak is "up to" around 300 to 400+ Mbps down, but typical real-world speeds are much lower. Over at ZDNET's sister publication, PCMag, reviewer Brian Westover found that even on Starlink's top home plan, the Residential Max plan, mean download speeds plateaued in the 145 megabits per second (Mbps) to 170 Mbps range, with upload speeds of just under 40 Mbps.
Also: I built my own Wi-Fi router with a Raspberry Pi for Starlink and solar control - here's how
That's plodding compared to my home AT&T Internet fiber, which, day in and day out, delivers 2.1 gigabits per second (Gbps) download and upload speeds. I never would have dreamed of such speeds when I was still using a 300-baud modem. But these days, almost no one uses modems, and if you're not living in a broadband-rich area, you may not have access to fiber internet. For people like Westover, who lives in rural Idaho, Starlink isn't just great; it's a necessity.
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