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First, Starlink has limited bandwidth per square mile. Therefore it cannot conceivably provide telecommunications for densely populated areas. Second, all you
by btilly 5y ago
First, Starlink has limited bandwidth per square mile. Therefore it cannot conceivably provide telecommunications for densely populated areas.
Second, all you have to do is make these aircraft compatible with cell phones. So your target population already has "end user terminals" literally in hand.
Third, this is not a one-time need. Local disasters happen fairly regularly, and sometimes can be predicted in advance. (For example hurricanes.) There is real value to an instant telecommunications network that can be deployed on short notice.
Now I don't claim that this is actually economically viable. But it is not exactly crazy, either.
- tpmx 5y agoPretty good points. Starlink can't do 2G/3G/4G/5G with mobile phones on the ground, ~550+ km away, of course. They should probably look into partnering with e.g. Ericsson Response (https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/sustainability-and-corporate-responsibility/digital-inclusion/humanitarian-response https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/sustainability-and-corp...).