SpaceX Starlink achieved a new internal median latency record of 28ms on June 1, 2024. It will get to below 20 millisecond latency.
SpaceX has sent a request to the FCC to allow operation at about 350 kilometer instead of 530 kilometers. The closer operation will reduce the latency by 1.3 milliseconds.
Starlink just achieved a new internal median latency record of 28ms yesterday!
Great work by the engineering and operations teams.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2024
Median latency for Starlink Internet in the US will get below 20ms https://t.co/aNHloNHEiP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2024
SpaceX achieved peak download speed of over 17Mb/s from satellite direct to unmodified Samsung Android phone.
If SpaceX has larger version 2 or version 3 Starlink satellites launched with Starship to the lower altitude this could increase bandwidth by 10 times. The larger satellites will have bigger antenna and being much closer will also increase the signal.
It would be reasonable to expect the current Gen 2 mini satellites to operate at 20-30 Mbps (faster than the proven download speed) for direct to unmodified cellphones.
The full Starship sized Gen 3 satellites to operate at 200-300 Mbps for direct to unmodified cellphones.
There will also be modified cellphones, attachable antennas or other means to boost the signal. The slightly modified cellphones could see 2-10X speed increases.
There will be a range of larger antennas up to lower power dishes that would provide a range of communication speeds.
The range of speeds would be the cellphone text communication speed at maybe 1-10 kbps and the 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps satellite services. There will likely be systems to fill in the gap from 30 kbps to 50 Mbps at the 30 kbps, 100 kbps, 300 kbps, 1 Mbps, 5 Mbps, 20 Mbps and 50 Mbps performance areas. The 10 kbps would be for basic voice calls, emails and minimum internet data service.
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I don’t think if there will be such increase on the modified phones. I mean I was thinking of using extra external antenna on the smartphone for mountaineering to boost the signal at remote places, so I wouldn’t need sat phone. I ditched that idea, because receiver antenna doesn’t matter a lot, unless it is a big one. I mean the most work is done by cell phone towers, that is important. Smaller receiving antenna probably wouldn’t do a lot.
I’ve got a proper fiber optic drop on my sidewalk, likely taking one of the most direct routes from point to point, without the need for excess bouncing, redirecting or processing. Double digit latency in the low ms range is a non-issue. I wouldn’t trade the available bandwidth for anything.
And this affects me how?
What is the long distance latency? Like Copenhagen to Los Angeles?
I was on a zoom call with a guy on starlink in North Carolina in 2022 and I did not notice whatever latency then.
I have 200 ms ping (300 ms with VPN active) on a 10000 km distance now via fiber. Its ok for talking, but you notice it when using a mouse.
20000 km round trip can be done in 67 ms at light speed
20000/300000 = 0,067