Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, is working towards delivering high-speed satellite internet globally. Their Starlink service is already operational in many countries, providing internet services through various plans. Recently, there has been an online indication of a potential new plan called “Starlink Community”.
Although this plan has not been officially announced yet, some mentions have been found on a support page on Starlink’s website. It suggests that SpaceX might soon launch a shared internet package.
Starlink Community Plan – Potential Features
The main idea of this plan is that multiple users can use the internet via a single Starlink dish. Each user would have their own Starlink account, but all would connect to the internet through a shared receiver. Reports suggest that this plan could support up to 10 users.
Cost Estimation
There is no official pricing for the Starlink Community Plan yet. However, reports from some US-based tech media indicate that the monthly cost per user could be around $60. In some regions, this cost could drop to $20. These figures are not yet confirmed.
In comparison, Starlink’s Residential Lite Plan costs around $80, and the Standard Residential Plan is $120. This could be a much more affordable option.
Who Benefits?
The Starlink Community Package could benefit the most:
- People in rural areas
- Community schools or libraries
- Families living in apartment complexes
- Low-income individuals in developing countries
In countries like Bangladesh, where broadband is not yet widespread in many villages, such shared services can play a significant role in reducing digital disparity.
Technical Feasibility of the Starlink Community Package
Starlink’s satellites are connected via a special type of antenna known as a phased-array antenna. This antenna is designed to allow multiple users to connect simultaneously and each receive a specific bandwidth. Furthermore, the Starlink satellite constellation already consists of thousands of satellites, making the internet connection more stable and faster.
Although the Community Package is not officially launched yet, Starlink’s support page mentions it. The main goal of this Community Plan is to provide internet access to multiple users through a shared Starlink dish, reducing costs and making internet more accessible to remote areas.
Typically, Starlink’s service involves setting up a separate dish for each customer, who then shares the internet within their own home through a Wi-Fi router. The entire system is designed for single-customer use.
What’s New in the ‘Community’ Plan?
This new Community Plan is designed for multiple users instead of a single user. A Starlink dish will be installed, from which many users can connect using their own Wi-Fi routers through a network switch.
This method would be especially effective for apartment buildings, suburban areas, or communities where high-speed broadband is not readily available.
Information from the Support Page
The process for starting a community site is detailed on Starlink’s support page. It states:
“After installing the Starlink Kit and network switch, the host can start connecting subscribers. Each subscriber must have their own Wi-Fi router.”
Therefore, the host will activate the connection through the main Starlink dish and switch, and then different users can use the internet via their own Wi-Fi routers. Shared subscribers must also have a Starlink account.
Although the term “Community Plan” has been seen on the Starlink website, SpaceX has not yet released any press release or official announcement about this service.
This could be an experimental plan still in internal phases, or it might just be a framework for the future. However, tech world analysts believe that since SpaceX has started working on it, it may be test-launched in certain countries by 2025.
Some Questions Remain
Before understanding how this plan will work in practice, some questions need answering:
- How much will internet speed decrease when sharing one dish?
- Even with separate accounts, how secure and private will the service be?
- How will service congestion or traffic management be handled?
The answers to these questions are still unknown as SpaceX has not provided detailed information on these matters.
Currently, Starlink’s competitors in the satellite internet market include Amazon’s “Project Kuiper” and Europe’s “OneWeb”.
If the shared subscription model is launched, Starlink may stay ahead of these competitors, especially in developing countries.
Importance of This Service in Bangladesh’s Context
In Bangladesh, many areas still have no alternative but mobile internet. Many cannot get fiber connections due to location or infrastructure.
If Starlink launches this community model in Bangladesh and the government grants the necessary permissions, it could bring about a revolutionary change for village schools, markets, and even union digital centers.
The new satellite internet plan named “Starlink Community” has not yet been launched, but the information on the website clearly indicates that SpaceX is working on it.
This effort to deliver affordable internet by sharing a single connection among many people could open up significant possibilities in the digital world. However, nothing definitive can be said yet. We must wait for SpaceX’s official announcement. Until then, keeping an eye on this promising initiative would be wise.
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