Billions of people around the world are connected to the Internet, but at the same time, there are billions that are still not connected, especially those who live in rural and remote areas.
To fill this gap, the Spacex’s Starlink, the Amazon Kuper project, and the Chinese Guowang project compete to provide a high -speed internet across the satellite towers in the low -Earth orbit (Leo) for billions of people who still cannot connect easily.
Since its first launch in 2019, Spacex has redefined the meaning of access to the Internet via satellite. To this writing, the Starlink 7000 constellation of satellites exceeds 42000 by 2030.
Starlink, which provides speeds of up to 220 MB per second, serves more than four million subscribers in more than 100 countries so far. From rural societies in America to war areas such as Ukraine, people can contact Starlink as they have no other option to access the Internet.
Starlink uses a connection between laser -based tapes to enhance the efficiency of data transmission, which reduces dependence on earth networks and makes it easier for users to access the web.
The Amazon’s Kuiper project, named after Kuiper Belt, is a new player for the Leo Satellite field, with the aim of publishing 3,236 satellites soon. As of now, Project Kuper is scheduled to send the first full range of satellites to space early April 28.
Competition with Starlink, Kuper’s optical technology between fashion (Oisl) is the transmission speeds rival floor fibers, with the test
The results show up to 400 MB per second.
Starlink laser links and Oisl technology in Kuiper create network networks in space, allowing data to be directed faster without multiple terrestrial stations.
According to Amazon, the satellite system will include “more than 3,200 satellites that are low in orbit, and we have secured more than 80 launch operations to publish this initial constellation, with each of them adding dozens of satellites to the network.”
Amazon has invested about $ 10 billion in the project, and its new facilities in Washington and Florida confirm its commitment. However, with only preliminary models in orbit, Kuper continues to fall behind Starlink. The launch of the following satellites will determine the success of Kuiper and whether it can penetrate emerging markets.
Chinese online ambitions center in Guang, a state -owned project by China Satnit, and Tishnfan, led by the tail of the Shanghai -based space. Guowang plans a constellation of about 13,000 satellite, while Qianfan aims for 15,000 by 2030, starting from 648 in 2025.
As with many of its projects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) all over Asia, Africa and Europe, China aims to challenge Western domination in space as well.
With the launch of 18 satellites in 2024, Chiafan now got deals in Brazil and Kazakhstan and hoped to negotiate more deals in other countries.
Qianfan and Guowang aims to reduce dependence on Western infrastructure, and China sees Western power as a threat to its national security, especially in possible conflicts such as Taiwan. Of course, the West countries are concerned about the expansion of Chiafan, as this also poses a security threat to Western countries, especially with regard to data security, intelligence and monitoring.
The Starlink feature of being the first, in addition to its ability at all, makes it advanced, but the financial support for Kuper and the state’s support in Guowang can give them the support they need to overcome the connection.
With 4 billion people lacking trusted internet, Leo Constelles is connected to remote areas where the fibers and 5G are impractical. The Starlink effect in the countryside of Thailand and Ukraine shows these capabilities, for example, while Koyber and Goyang are targeting similar markets that are not connected. However, the costs of high equipment and subscription fees remain an obstacle, and in the near future, it will limit access to developing economies.
If the point is to deliver disadvantaged societies, these companies will need to find a way to reduce costs. If they succeed, we can expect to see a completely connected ball in our lives – an incredible achievement for humanity.
