Syllabus
GS 3: Science and Technology
Context:
Recently, Elon Musk’s company Starlink received final approval from the Indian government to begin its operations.
More on the News
- In May, Starlink received an operator license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), nearly three years after applying.
- In July, it got final approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) which authorised the company to operate its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, Starlink Gen1.
- This authorisation will allow Starlink to offer satellite communication services in India using its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.
- The IN-SPACe authorisation granted to Starlink is valid for five years from the date of approval or until the end of the operational life of the Gen1 satellite constellation, whichever comes first.
- The rollout of services will depend on compliance with regulatory conditions and obtaining all necessary clearances and licences from relevant government departments.
About Starlink Project
- Starlink is a satellite internet project by Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX. It was announced in January 2015 to help fund SpaceX’s dream of sending humans to Mars.
- It uses a constellation of over 7,000 LEO satellites to provide high-speed internet, especially in remote or rural areas.
- The goal is to provide high-speed internet all over the world using satellites.
- In February 2018, SpaceX launched two test satellites called TinTin A and TinTin B. In May 2019, it launched the first 60 Starlink satellites using a Falcon 9 rocket.
- Since 2021, Starlink started taking pre-orders in many countries. Today, it offers internet service in over 60 countries but only on a small scale.
- In future, Starlink wants to provide mobile signals directly to phones, even in remote areas like forests or the middle of the ocean.
- It also plans to connect smart devices through satellites in the future.
About Satellite internet
- It is a type of wireless broadband that sends internet signals from satellites in space to a user’s dish or terminal on Earth.
- Unlike fiber-optic or mobile networks that need cables and towers on the ground, satellite internet works without much ground infrastructure. It beams internet directly from space.
Types of Satellite Internet:
- GEO (Geostationary Orbit) Satellites: These are far from Earth and stay fixed above one location. Example: VSAT services.
- LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Satellites: They orbit closer to Earth and provide faster, low-latency internet. Examples: Starlink, OneWeb.
Significance of Starlink Project
- Helps Remote Areas Get Internet: Starlink is useful for places where internet is slow or not available at all. In India, the company has asked TRAI to help approve its use in rural and remote areas.
- Fast and Low-Delay Internet: Starlink can give high-speed internet between 100 to 200 Mbps with very low delay (around 20 milliseconds) which is helpful for users in villages or isolated areas.
- Useful for Education and Health: People use Starlink to get access to online learning, health services, and even to stay connected during emergencies.
- Quick Setup in Disasters: Starlink can be set up in just a few minutes. This makes it a good option during natural disasters, when regular networks don’t work.
- Proven Use in War Zones: During the Russia-Ukraine war, SpaceX and USAID sent 5,000 Starlink devices to Ukraine. These helped people and the government stay connected when normal systems failed.
