How about some data from SpeedTest about the Satellite internet?
Quoting the article. Consumers in the U.S. looking to use satellite service to connect to the internet will find that performance was mostly flat when comparing Q3 2021 to Q2 2021. Starlink’s median download speed decreased from 97.23 Mbps during Q2 2021 to 87.25 Mbps in Q3 2021, which could be a function of adding more customers. HughesNet followed distantly at 19.30 Mbps (comparable to the 19.73 Mbps we saw in Q2 2021) and Viasat third at 18.75 Mbps (18.13 Mbps in Q2 2021). For comparison, the median download speed for all fixed broadband providers in the U.S. during Q3 2021 was 119.84 Mbps (115.22 Mbps in Q2 2021).
Ookla did a similar study, finding Starlink’s median download speeds only saw a slight increase to 90.67 Mbps, up 3 Mbps from last quarter.
And why all my coverage on broadband? As CIO Dive observes, this could expand the where people work… including rural areas.
Why do we care?
I’m with the analysts at CIO Dive that this could be a model shift… and I’ll also note that satellite internet appears to have a ways to go, particularly when I compare against 5G. And 5G isn’t available everywhere…. And has its own painful rollout.
I continue to believe providers should be pushing for more investment here – and likely at a government level. Investments in the interstate system drive growth. So here too.