Starlink Beta Has Outperformed Most Internet in the US – Futurism

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Some of the participants in SpaceXs public Starlink beta are reporting internet speeds higher than 95 percent of U.S. internet users.

Starlink, a constellation of what will eventually be tens of thousands of satellites, was launched for the purpose of beaming down internet service to the planet, especially rural areas with weak connections. SpaceX told users to expect moderate signals during the public beta, Business Insider reports, but some users have already had better luck than they ever did with a conventional internet provider.

SpaceX made its expectations clear from the beginning: The space company called the public test a Better Than Nothing Beta and suggested users might see speeds of 50 to 150 Mbps.

Starlink will forever change the game, one user from rural Montana said on Reddit as they shared their 174 Mbps download speeds. Another beta tester boasted of their results in Seattle, which were slightly lower but still better than 95 percent of the U.S.

Of course, these users are getting what they paid for: Participation in the public beta means paying $99 per month on top of a one-time $499 expense for a Starlink router, tripod, and terminal that allows users to connect, Business Insider reports.

For now, Starlink internet cuts off for seconds at a time every couple of minutes a predicted glitch that SpaceX told users to expect but those interruptions will likely fade as more satellites are launched and coverage becomes more comprehensive.

READ MORE: SpaceXs Starlink internet public beta is giving some users blistering download speeds of more than 160 Mbps, including in rural Montana [Business Insider]

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Starlink Beta Has Outperformed Most Internet in the US - Futurism