SpaceX known for its most futuristic design and prototype has again come up with something super cool and that is their Starlink satellite system that would be able to deliver access to Youtube and Netflix at 30,000 feet. So it recently held a demo for the media aboard a jet operated by its first airline customer, regional carrier JSX.
The short jaunt from Burbank to San Jose, California marks the start of Elon Musk’s bid to seize in-flight business from satellite providers Intelsat and Viasat Inc. that already serve thousands of aircraft
“Are they a serious competitor? Yes,” said Jeff Sare, president of commercial aviation for Intelsat, a leading provider of wireless service on airlines. Still, Sare said, “We don’t believe there’s anybody that can beat us” during an interview with Bloomberg.
Starlink, part of Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, delivers broadband facilities from a constellation of low-flying satellites. Starlink has finally launched more than 3,000 satellites that’s benefitting 40,000 customers according to a claim made by Starlink.
As far as aircraft connectivity is concerned there is a downside for Musk that these satellites won’t be able to serve their purposes in the crowded sky where aircraft fly countless times. Each area would be only served by a few satellites so it’s not going to be an easy game for them.
US regulators recently cited Starlink’s “still developing technology” when they turned down the service for an $866 million government subsidy.
“You’ve got to get it to work, and you’ve got to get it cheap,” said Chris Quilty, a partner at Quilty Analytics, a consultant to the space and satellite industry. “It’s a very complex market. And the airlines have historically been exceedingly cautious.”
Despite all these potential issues that can pose a hurdle for Musk, Starlink claims that it can handle even crowded airspace. But it would be interesting to see how Musk resolves this and prove to the world who is willing to see another magic of him.
