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Well if you make the argument that it will replace terrestrial networks and that's why its worth X trillion $ then yes, you do actually need to cover the 1% of

Well if you make the argument that it will replace terrestrial networks and that's why its worth X trillion $ then yes, you do actually need to cover the 1% of earth surface where the waste majority of people actually spend most of their time. The question is not if its a good business, the question if its a 2 trillion $ business, and if you only cover the 95% of earth without coverage. That more like a couple 100 billion $ business at best.

tristanj 7mo ago
I never said it would replace terrestrial networks... you invented that claim yourself and are responding to a strawman. Starlink mobile is for rural areas, and the other 90% of the planet that's not well served by traditional terrestrial networks. And 40% of earth's population live in rural areas, so there is a large market for this kind of service.
- newguytony 7mo ago
  In regions like Nigeria or the Philippines, Starlink costs over 100% of the average monthly income. The individual addressable rural market really is closer to 1% than 40%.
  - tristanj 7mo ago
    Starlink Mobile != Starlink You're talking about the wrong product. I am talking about Starlink mobile, their direct-to-cellphone mobile data offering, not Starlink internet...
    - newguytony 7mo ago
      Starlink Mobile actually reinforces my point. Most don't have phones capable of using it. And even at that, it’s a low-bandwidth designed for SMS and emergency data, not a primary ISP replacement. Of course, you can believe what it could be... Much like all of Elons products, they are always coming
- thfuran 7mo ago
  [dead]
- muskstinks 7mo ago
  If its a big market, SpaceX will have to share this sooner than later as plenty of others are working on this. Nonetheless even in rural areas there is A LOT of coverage. And starlink has one sig issue: its bandwidth. For them to increase bandwdith they need to scale which is expensive and they have to reinvest every 5 years in replacing these satelites. A fiber layed down can work for a lot longer and can be replaced a lot easier.

tristanj 7mo ago

I never said it would replace terrestrial networks... you invented that claim yourself and are responding to a strawman. Starlink mobile is for rural areas, and the other 90% of the planet that's not well served by traditional terrestrial networks. And 40% of earth's population live in rural areas, so there is a large market for this kind of service.

newguytony 7mo ago
In regions like Nigeria or the Philippines, Starlink costs over 100% of the average monthly income. The individual addressable rural market really is closer to 1% than 40%.
- tristanj 7mo ago
  Starlink Mobile != Starlink You're talking about the wrong product. I am talking about Starlink mobile, their direct-to-cellphone mobile data offering, not Starlink internet...
  - newguytony 7mo ago
    Starlink Mobile actually reinforces my point. Most don't have phones capable of using it. And even at that, it’s a low-bandwidth designed for SMS and emergency data, not a primary ISP replacement. Of course, you can believe what it could be... Much like all of Elons products, they are always coming
thfuran 7mo ago
[dead]
muskstinks 7mo ago
If its a big market, SpaceX will have to share this sooner than later as plenty of others are working on this. Nonetheless even in rural areas there is A LOT of coverage. And starlink has one sig issue: its bandwidth. For them to increase bandwdith they need to scale which is expensive and they have to reinvest every 5 years in replacing these satelites. A fiber layed down can work for a lot longer and can be replaced a lot easier.