How much market is out there for satellite Internet? I don't think anyone with access to wired ISP are going to choose satellites over wired. Plus 5G mobile Internet is becoming pretty good too. Maybe I'm missing something but to me it doesn't sound like a good long term business.
Plus I think we should be invested in installing more optic fiber. The US is laughably behind other countries on that
I've been following the Russia/Ukraine war and satellite internet has been pretty important there. For first world countries not currently being bombed to death, you're probably right. But for everywhere else it is better than waiting for new ISPs to start up and get fiber rolled out. It is the global market outside the US that they are probably going for.
It feels like a consequence of market/regulatory failure in the US rather than a real demand for the technology. Internet access is far cheaper and more widely available in most other developed countries.
Do you really think these companies are spending billions of dollars on such systems without doing any research as to whether a market for it exists?
"Starlink is SpaceX's primary revenue driver, generating $11.39 billion in 2025 and accounting for roughly 61% of the company's total sales. The satellite connectivity unit is the only highly profitable division of the company, generating an operating income of $4.42 billion"
From personal experience, there's still a considerable chunk of rural America that isn't wired. I'm currently looking at an area to buy a house, and the only option around is Starlink.
Zero competition. No fiber. No cable. 5G coverage isn't sufficient for my daily needs, but okay for a failover.
Non pay-wall link:
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/amazon-leo-space-internet...
How much market is out there for satellite Internet? I don't think anyone with access to wired ISP are going to choose satellites over wired. Plus 5G mobile Internet is becoming pretty good too. Maybe I'm missing something but to me it doesn't sound like a good long term business.
Plus I think we should be invested in installing more optic fiber. The US is laughably behind other countries on that
There are plenty of roaming applications: camping, boating, flying and war zones, which have both private and enterprise customer possibilities.
Then there are remote places that either have no other option or would like a backup solution.
I've been following the Russia/Ukraine war and satellite internet has been pretty important there. For first world countries not currently being bombed to death, you're probably right. But for everywhere else it is better than waiting for new ISPs to start up and get fiber rolled out. It is the global market outside the US that they are probably going for.
It feels like a consequence of market/regulatory failure in the US rather than a real demand for the technology. Internet access is far cheaper and more widely available in most other developed countries.
The military demand is real enough, though.
The military radar demand? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbp3kdJZ1_A
Wired cable is such a monopoly that even Google fiber couldnt compete.
Its the only innovation in the space (literally and metaphorically.)
Do you really think these companies are spending billions of dollars on such systems without doing any research as to whether a market for it exists?
"Starlink is SpaceX's primary revenue driver, generating $11.39 billion in 2025 and accounting for roughly 61% of the company's total sales. The satellite connectivity unit is the only highly profitable division of the company, generating an operating income of $4.42 billion"
From personal experience, there's still a considerable chunk of rural America that isn't wired. I'm currently looking at an area to buy a house, and the only option around is Starlink.
Zero competition. No fiber. No cable. 5G coverage isn't sufficient for my daily needs, but okay for a failover.