Elon Musk stated on Sunday that if SpaceX's Starlink satellite network continues to expand, it could eventually carry the majority of internet traffic. He painted a future where the system becomes the primary backbone for online connectivity.
Musk responded on X to a post citing details from SpaceX documents, which indicate that Starlink V3 satellites will significantly increase downlink capacity, from 96 Gbps per satellite for V2 to 1,024 Gbps per satellite for V3.
Musk wrote, "Ultimately, there will be over 100,000 V3/V4/V5 satellites, offering broadband network and direct-to-cell phone services. If growth continues, Starlink will one day carry most of the internet traffic. At that point, Starlink is the internet, and everything else will connect to Starlink."
These comments depict a scenario where Starlink expands from a satellite broadband provider to a global communications network. In this future, more digital traffic will no longer primarily rely on local cables, traditional internet service providers, and national networks. Instead, it will be transmitted via the satellite network, covering homes, aircraft, ships, mobile devices, and remote areas.
Musk made these remarks following a recent letter from SpaceX to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the agency to terminate the high-cost broadband program. This program aims to subsidize broadband and voice service providers in rural areas. SpaceX argues that satellite broadband has already helped bridge the connectivity gap in rural regions, and therefore, these legacy subsidy policies should be reconsidered.
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