4 ms·

Anyone know why SpaceX isn't trying to get deals similar to Amazon's Kuiper? https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/verizon-partnering-with-amazon-project-kuiper-sate

Anyone know why SpaceX isn't trying to get deals similar to Amazon's Kuiper? https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/verizon-partnering-with-amazon-project-kuiper-satellite-internet.html https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/verizon-partnering-with-amaz... Why have cell phones communicate with the SAT directly if you can just use the SATs to deploy "normal" cell towers?

wmf 3y ago
Nobody is going to deploy cell towers in the middle of nowhere. If you want to use Starlink Business for tower backhaul I'm sure they would be happy to sell it to you.
dotnet00 3y ago
IIRC they have an agreement with Google where they can have Google datacenters (and the high speed connectivity that comes with) as downlinks for Starlink in exchange for having a more direct path for Google cloud customers to Google's network. They also have a spectrum sharing agreement with T-Mobile (which is how they're planning on offering this satellite-to-phone service in the US), maybe that'll expand to Starlink providing backhaul for more remote towers if it doesn't already cover that.
310260 3y ago
Because the purpose is coverage improvement without investing in cell sites. Individual cell sites are massively expensive. Deploying one thing in space that covers the same area plus way more is far less expensive. It's worth noting that this service is a "good enough" solution at the moment - SMS/app-based text messaging, maybe voice calls, and very limited data. As wireless standards continue to evolve, it'll become more helpful for modern use cases.
gonesilent 3y ago
That's what Rogers is doing
acheron9383 3y ago
Starlink already does this today for Indonesia, they provide backhaul for remote cell towers for Telkomsat. https://voi.id/en/technology/178276 https://voi.id/en/technology/178276

4 ms·

Anyone know why SpaceX isn't trying to get deals similar to Amazon's Kuiper? https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/26/verizon-partnering-with-amazon-project-kuiper-sate

by throw_nbvc1234 3y ago

wmf 3y ago
Nobody is going to deploy cell towers in the middle of nowhere. If you want to use Starlink Business for tower backhaul I'm sure they would be happy to sell it to you.
dotnet00 3y ago
IIRC they have an agreement with Google where they can have Google datacenters (and the high speed connectivity that comes with) as downlinks for Starlink in exchange for having a more direct path for Google cloud customers to Google's network. They also have a spectrum sharing agreement with T-Mobile (which is how they're planning on offering this satellite-to-phone service in the US), maybe that'll expand to Starlink providing backhaul for more remote towers if it doesn't already cover that.
310260 3y ago
Because the purpose is coverage improvement without investing in cell sites. Individual cell sites are massively expensive. Deploying one thing in space that covers the same area plus way more is far less expensive. It's worth noting that this service is a "good enough" solution at the moment - SMS/app-based text messaging, maybe voice calls, and very limited data. As wireless standards continue to evolve, it'll become more helpful for modern use cases.
gonesilent 3y ago
That's what Rogers is doing
acheron9383 3y ago
Starlink already does this today for Indonesia, they provide backhaul for remote cell towers for Telkomsat. https://voi.id/en/technology/178276 https://voi.id/en/technology/178276