4 ms·
Iridium has global coverage (you can make phone calls from the South Pole) but isn't LEO so there's a latency issue. Starlink is LEO and will have faster rates
by chiph 7y ago
Iridium has global coverage (you can make phone calls from the South Pole) but isn't LEO so there's a latency issue. Starlink is LEO and will have faster rates & lower latency, but won't have global coverage since the orbits don't go over the poles (sorry, Amundsen-Scott!).
What about the proposed Amazon (Blue Origin?) system?
- greglindahl 7y agoThe FCC requires that Starlink cover Alaska, and it will with a later set of satellites in polar orbit. Ditto for every constellation approved by the FCC.
- syedkarim 7y agoIridium is definitely LEO.
- __d 7y agoIridium orbits are ~780km (485 mi). Starlink lower tier orbits are ~340km (210 mi).