What Is Starlink? Here's An Explanation Of Elon Musk's Satellite That Will Enter Indonesia

Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink explanation (photo: SpaceX)

JAKARTA - Elon Musk is indeed identified as the boss of Tesla's electric car and also the owner of SpaceX. Recently there has also been a furor regarding his wanting to buy Twitter.

But apart from that, Elon Musk also owns the Starlink venture which aims to sell internet connections to almost anyone around the world.

After a successful launch for three years, the Starlink project has already surpassed 1,000 satellites sent into orbit. Starlink now offers more than 2,000 functional satellites orbiting overhead, and says it now offers service in 32 countries worldwide.

What is Starlink?

Launching from various sources, Starlink is a constellation of internet satellites operated by SpaceX to provide a satellite-based internet communication system to various regions on Earth.

Starlink operates in low earth orbit, also known as Low Earth Orbit. Low Earth Orbit is commonly used for people in rural areas or areas that do not have internet access due to the absence of optical fiber.

Starlink is now available in 32 countries around the world. People ordering from areas marked “available” will have their Starlink shipped immediately → https://t.co/slZbTmHdml pic.twitter.com/CecM1pkf5D

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 13, 2022

Technically, the development of this network began in 2015, with the prototype satellites being launched into orbit in 2018. Since then, SpaceX has launched thousands of Starlink satellites and currently, the total number of satellites launched into orbit stands at 2,759.

Can Starlink Connect People in Rural Areas to the Internet?

Starlink really aims to sell internet access to people who are especially in rural areas do not yet have access to high-speed broadband.

This Starlink hardware includes a satellite dish and router, which are used to receive signals from space. SpaceX also promises that further improvements to the design of the can will be made in 2022.

The official website states that Starlink is not limited by traditional land infrastructure. Starlink can provide high-speed broadband internet to locations where access is unreliable or completely unavailable.

"Starlink is perfect for areas of the world where connectivity is usually a challenge," the Starlink website reads.

Furthermore, SpaceX also offers several mounting options on the roof, or in the yard, outside of your home. The company even provides a Starlink app for Android and iOS that uses Augmented Reality (AR) to help customers choose the best location and position for their receivers.

How fast is Starlink's internet service?

According to internet speed tracking site Ookla, which analyzes satellite internet performance during the fourth quarter of 2021, Starlink offers download speeds exceeding 100 Mbps in 15 different countries. In the US, the average download speed is around 105 Mbps.

However, what is certain and written on the Starlink web is that users can expect to see data rates varying from 50 to 150 megabits per second and latency from 20 to 40 milliseconds in most locations over the next few months.

Where is Starlink Available?

According to Musk, the list of countries currently served by a growing network of low-earth orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia, and New Zealand. Starlink's pre-order agreement includes the option to request service in other countries as well, including Italy, Poland, Spain, and Chile.

However, recently the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto, said that President Joko Widodo's meeting with Elon Musk some time ago would develop a Low Earth Orbit prototype for Indonesia's infrastructure development.

According to the map list, the availability of Starlink worldwide also proves that Indonesia has entered the waitlist to immediately adopt Starlink. For more complete information regarding which countries have and will use it, you can see it here.