Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, is rapidly becoming popular as a global satellite internet provider. By using thousands of satellites, Starlink delivers internet service to areas where optical fiber is difficult to reach. It provides internet access to remote locations such as deserts, mountains, and seas where traditional wired connections are impractical.
**Cost of Using Starlink:**
In the United States, getting Starlink satellite internet requires a one-time hardware fee of $599. In Bangladeshi Taka, this amounts to approximately 70,000 BDT.
The monthly fee for a fixed address is $120, which is about 14,000 BDT. For an additional $25 (around 2,900 BDT), users can use the terminal on the move, although the internet speed may be slightly lower compared to fixed-location users.
**Internet Speeds and Latency:**
For permanent users, Starlink offers internet speeds ranging from 50 to 150 Mbps (megabits per second) and latency between 20 to 40 milliseconds (ms).
A survey indicated that in the first quarter of 2022, the average download speed for Starlink was 90.55 Mbps, but it decreased to 62.5 Mbps in the second quarter of the same year.
**High-Speed Version:**
Starlink also offers a high-speed version known as Starlink Business. It provides speeds from 150 to 500 Mbps, but requires a terminal costing $2,500 (approximately 294,000 BDT) and a monthly service fee of $500 (about 58,000 BDT).
**Maritime Service:**
Starlink Maritime, launched in July 2022, provides internet connectivity even in deep seas with speeds up to 350 Mbps. To access this service, a specialized terminal costing $10,000 (around 1,176,000 BDT) is required, along with a monthly service fee of $5,000 (approximately 588,000 BDT).
**Popularity of Starlink:**
According to SpaceX, Starlink had around 250,000 customers in March 2022. By May of the same year, the number exceeded 400,000. By December 2022, the company announced surpassing 1 million customers. By September 2023, the number had grown to 2 million, and by May 2024, it exceeded 3 million.
Starlink is listed among the top 100 most downloaded apps on the Apple App Store, reflecting the growing demand for its satellite internet service. Starlink has been trying to enter the Bangladeshi market for the past two years but has not yet succeeded. According to Starlink’s website, the service is expected to launch in Bangladesh in 2025.
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