Starlink satellite internet has been available to a few Canadians since October 2020, when the “Better Than Nothing” beta testing phase started.
Little Known Details About Starlink Internet In Canada
Starlink is Elon Musk’s latest tech innovation, and it is something that many people worldwide can use. Starlink is part of the billionaire’s spaceship company, SpaceX, that gives limited US, UK, and Canada users access to high-speed internet connections.
It is meant to help people in rural and sparsely populated areas around the world where internet access hasn’t been available or hasn’t worked well.
SpaceX will have to spend at least $10 billion or more to set up the internet network that will connect everything. But the leaders of the company think they will make at least $30 billion a year, which is 10 times more than they make from the rocket business.
How Does Starlink Internet Work?
The company sends internet data to users through satellite constellations that circle the earth. Radio signals are used to send internet data through the vacuum of space.
Starlink has stations on earth that send signals to the satellites that are close to Earth. In turn, users get data from a satellite terminal that they plug into an outlet and point at the sky.
You can only use the terminal in one place or one cell. Because of this, it stays at home. Also, you must set up the terminal in a place where you can see it well.
But there are plans to make it portable so that it can be used on boats, trucks, RVs, ships, planes, and remote workstations.
When will Canada be able to get Starlink Internet?
Since October 2020, a few people in Canada have had access to Starlink satellite internet through the “Better Than Nothing” beta testing phase. The network hasn’t said when the full launch will happen yet.
Canadians who live between 43 and 53 degrees north latitude can take part in this beta testing phase. There are beta testers in Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, which are all in these latitudes. During the beta testing phase, Starlink is serving more than 10,000 customers in limited areas, but the service isn’t fully up and running yet.
After testing the two addresses on Starlink’s registration page, IT Canada World says that the network plans to start providing service in Vancouver and Toronto in the middle to late part of 2021. As more satellites are added, the range will keep getting bigger.
Who can join the beta program for Starlink?
More than 10,000 people from Canada, the US, and the UK are currently using the beta program. This number will keep going up as more people sign up and get on the waiting list.
You can do the same thing, but keep in mind that only a certain number of people in each coverage area can use the program. And the orders are always filled in the order they are received. Also, keep in mind that it could take up to six months to get your order.
How to Join the Starlink Network?
You have to sign up for the Starlink Network on the company’s official website before you can use it. After that, most users find it pretty easy to connect to the Starlink network.
Start by setting up your small satellite dish at home and turning on your router to receive the signal.
Also, when you buy a Starlink hardware kit, it comes with a menu that makes installation easy and quick. You can also get the Starlink app for Android and iOS to use augmented reality to help you choose the best place and position for your receiver.
How Much Will Starlink Internet Cost?
About CA$800 is how much Canadians pay for Starlink’s internet service. This amount is the average of the cost of the hardware upfront, which is CA$649, and the cost of the monthly subscription, which is around CA$129.
The hardware kit includes a user terminal that connects to the satellites, a satellite terminal, a Wi-Fi router, a mounting tripod, and a Wi-Fi router.
How well does Starlink Internet work?
Starlink says that speeds for the beta service range from 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps. Over the next few months, you can also expect latency between 20ms and 40ms and times when you can’t connect.
John Kim, who works at CNET as a senior video producer, has tried and tested Starlink. He is happy to say that you can get download speeds in the triple digits and a latency of less than 40ms.
As the company sends more satellites into space, the speed and latency will get better and better. Even though there is latency, you can still stream several HD movies and play video games very quickly.
It’s said that these speeds will soon double to 300MBPs, which is twice as fast as they are now.
Is the weather important for Starlink?
Yes, the weather can sometimes be a problem. Like when snow builds up in front of the satellite receiver and blocks its view. Power outages and slower speeds can also happen when it rains or winds a lot.
How is Starlink different from other providers of satellite Internet?
Hughesnet and Viasat are two other satellite Internet providers in Canada that have been around for a while. Starlink will surpass them because of how reliable it plans to be for its users.
For instance, Starlink internet speeds are currently much better than Hughesnet’s standard 25 Mbps speeds, and Viasat speeds that range between 12 and 120 Mbps for different plans. The network also has lower latency than its competitors and, unlike the other two satellite internet providers, its standard unlimited plan does not have a data cap at this time.
What Else Can You Hope For?
Since 2018, there have been 20 launches, which sent more than 1000 working satellites into space. Even though this sounds good, there is still a long way to go before the Starlink internet is where it should be.
The company has already asked for permission to launch 12,000 satellites into space and has since asked to launch up to 30,000 more.
The “Better than Nothing” beta phase is just the beginning of what the network has to offer.
As more gaps in the satellite constellation are filled over the next few months, you can expect more reliable high-speed internet connections, more connections between users, and more places where you can get satellite data.
