Is Starlink a WiFi or Internet

一、Starlink is Satellite Internet, Not Wi-Fi

SpaceX's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based broadband internet service known as Starlink offers high-speed access globally through low Earth orbit satellites positioned below 100km altitude, specifically in underserved or remote regions where terrestrial infrastructure (like fiber optic cables, DSL or cellular networks ) are unavailable or under-developed. This satellite internet platform serves as an alternative way of providing internet access globally.

二、How Does Starlink Work ?

1. Satellite Constellation – A network of thousands of small satellites in low-Earth orbit creates a satellite constellation that offers worldwide coverage.
2. Ground Communication – Earth-based equipment (dish antennas) establish a link with the closest satellite, which then forwards the transmitted data signals.
3. Inter-Satellite Links – Satellites use lasers to establish connections with each other, which helps lessen the need for dependence on ground stations.
4. Ground Stations – These link the satellites to the broader internet infrastructure.
5. High-Speed, Low-Latency Internet – Starlink satellites, orbiting at a low altitude of approximately 550 km, offer quicker internet speeds and reduced delay compared to conventional geostationary satellites.

Starlink Pipe Ground Mount For Starlink Gen3

三、Rural Digital Connectivity Via Starlink

This section proposes a framework to provide digital connectivity to remote rural locations via Starlink. 

The proposal considers an off-grid location as an example. It can be easily modified for a grid-connected location.

It is considered that 2 Mbps download speed and 0.25 Mbps upload speed is sufficient for a reasonable remote learning experience considering the fact that students are receiving content most of the time in a remote learning session

Above mentioned numbers are viable according to the authors' own experience in delivering remote learning sessions.

Below is presents the conceptual idea of a rural off-grid digital connectivity center. In this center, internet connectivity is provided via Starlink and is powered by solar energy. First, let’s do an approximate power requirement calculation. Assume that this center is equipped with 5 desktop computers and 5 laptops. Additionally, 40 tablets can
be simultaneously used in this location. The physical structure of the center can either be constructed for the purpose or it may be a re-purposed existing building.

It is reasonable to assume that a desktop PC with an LED display consumes approximately 150 W of power and a laptop consumes 60W of power. Additionally, a tablet consumes approximately 10W of power. So all the devices combine consume approximately 1.45 kW. Considering all the other requirements a 3 kW solar energy system would suffice to power up such a center. The capital cost of such a system would be 3500 USD