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I'm of many minds about this whole thing. Increased competition for Internet access is nice - gone are the days where I had one choice for Internet access. I ha

I'm of many minds about this whole thing. Increased competition for Internet access is nice - gone are the days where I had one choice for Internet access. I have the option for 2 cable providers, ATT Fiber or DSL, and T-Mobile Home Internet (I've used it at a relative's and it's quite good). Presumably I could sign up for Starlink too. But the thought of Amazon controlling Internet access is not ideal. Also I worry about the effect on astronomy which is I think one of humanity's more interesting pursuits.

throw_nbvc1234 5y ago
If you already have a reasonable option for internet then you're probably not the target audience for this.
- hotpotamus 5y ago
  Probably not, but I do think that more options will push legacy ISPs to up their game which will be a benefit to all consumers of Internet.
guhidalg 5y ago
Your confusion is well founded, these products are not for you and the true customers don't care. LEO Satellite network connectivity is every military's wet dream: impossible to deny without triggering global condemnation for creating space debris; only accessible to those with the most money (and access to launchers); allows you to run operations without deploying large power-hungry ground infrastructure. Why do you think Amazon fought so hard to take away the JEDI contract from Microsoft?
- throw_nbvc1234 5y ago
  Didn't Russia jam starlink in Ukraine with 50 year old tech? or was that debunked? Also DoD announced their own project a month or so back https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/pentagons-sda-awards-transport-layer-satellite-internet-contracts.html https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/pentagons-sda-awards-transpo...
  - mlindner 5y ago
    > Didn't Russia jam starlink in Ukraine with 50 year old tech? or was that debunked? Starlink hasn't been successfully jammed anywhere. They noticed some jamming attempts degrading the signal quality and put out a software update that fixed it. Ukraine is already using it to boostrap restarting the cell phone connectivity in destroyed areas near Kyiv.
  - guhidalg 5y ago
    DoD can announce whatever fantasy procurement project they want, Starlink exists today and you can pay for it and use it immediately.

throw_nbvc1234 5y ago

If you already have a reasonable option for internet then you're probably not the target audience for this.

hotpotamus 5y ago
Probably not, but I do think that more options will push legacy ISPs to up their game which will be a benefit to all consumers of Internet.

guhidalg 5y ago

Your confusion is well founded, these products are not for you and the true customers don't care. LEO Satellite network connectivity is every military's wet dream: impossible to deny without triggering global condemnation for creating space debris; only accessible to those with the most money (and access to launchers); allows you to run operations without deploying large power-hungry ground infrastructure. Why do you think Amazon fought so hard to take away the JEDI contract from Microsoft?

throw_nbvc1234 5y ago
Didn't Russia jam starlink in Ukraine with 50 year old tech? or was that debunked? Also DoD announced their own project a month or so back https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/pentagons-sda-awards-transport-layer-satellite-internet-contracts.html https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/pentagons-sda-awards-transpo...
- mlindner 5y ago
  > Didn't Russia jam starlink in Ukraine with 50 year old tech? or was that debunked? Starlink hasn't been successfully jammed anywhere. They noticed some jamming attempts degrading the signal quality and put out a software update that fixed it. Ukraine is already using it to boostrap restarting the cell phone connectivity in destroyed areas near Kyiv.
- guhidalg 5y ago
  DoD can announce whatever fantasy procurement project they want, Starlink exists today and you can pay for it and use it immediately.