The Internet is a vital service for people now more than ever. Between work, shopping, entertainment, and information, the average person can probably find something online. This connectivity provides such an essential service that internet access is now a utility. It has evolved from a luxury to a necessity, like electricity or access to running water. But even in this country, not everyone has access to modern internet services. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) refuse to expand their aging networks into the vast rural areas of this country.
That is where Starlink (by Elon Musk) comes in. The idea is simple enough; if the major internet providers do not expand terrestrial networks to encompass the vast rural areas, you need to take the internet extraterrestrial. In practice, it is an impressive undertaking. Millions of small satellites placed in orbit around the planet create a massively interconnected network that can be accessed via a small mountable dish. This dish will automatically acquire the signal of the closest satellite and connect you to the Internet at speeds the farm has never seen before!
This network is still in the growing stages as the sheer number of resources to cover the globe is astronomical. But the first demo packages are rolling out across the country, and the early verdict is that it works. It operates better than the alternatives in many small towns and rural areas—faster downloads than the mobile networks and more reliable than current satellite internet providers. Once complete, this network will change how we view connectivity, and it will do away with the geographic limitations to who can access and contribute to the growing Internet.