Why low orbit
Classic internet satellites sit in geostationary orbit 36,000 km above Earth, so the signal has a latency of around 600 ms. Starlink flies about 550 km up, so latency is similar to a land connection. The satellites move fast, though, so thousands are needed and the dish switches between them.
Where it helps
- Cabins, farms and mountain areas without fibre.
- Ships, planes and motorhomes.
- Crises and war zones where ground infrastructure is destroyed.
Criticism
Astronomers complain that bright satellite trails spoil sky observations. The number of objects in orbit and the risk of collisions are also rising. Amazon is building a rival network, and the European Union plans its own IRIS² satellite network.