Inter-satellite switching (user laser links) is already happening with the sats in polar orbits. The sats in polar orbits need this, because there is no base s

Inter-satellite switching (user laser links) is already happening with the sats in polar orbits. The sats in polar orbits need this, because there is no base stations on the ground within range - They need to route the signal through several satellites to a base station. Elon Musk has said all satellites will eventually use laser interlinks, but they just don't have this ready yet (and the current generation of satellites probably doesn't have the hardware either) More info here: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/01/spacex-adds-laser-links-to-starlink-satellites-to-serve-earths-polar-areas/ https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/01/space...