4 HN users recommended this explainer4 months2019–2020score 4
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Recommended as a clear explanation of Starlink's purpose and the case that it can beat fiber on latency for long routes.
Real Engineering explains why SpaceX is building Starlink, including the economics of satellite internet. It covers the latency advantage of light in vacuum over fiber for long-distance links.
Light travels 47% slower in a fiber optic cable than it does in the vacuum of space. [1] [1] [this video] (the whole video is worth watching, but that timestamp answers your specific question.
Right, so if you can't go through the crust then going up would be another option. Over long enough of a distance, say NYC to London (or even farther), the overhead of going up first and then a "straight" line horizontally (it's not completely straight because it has relay between the satellites via LOS laser but each arc would be fairly long) and back down would be shorter than a line following the curvature. (Edited: This is wrong. I had conflated the lower latency with shorter distance as others have pointed out.) BTW, I want to give full credit to my source: [this video] It also does a much better job of explaining it than I have but it is a convincing argument for how Starlink can be useful and why traders would be willing to pay a lot for it.
Explains why Starlink is useful and why traders would pay for it
Someone smarter than I made this, which you may or may not agree with... "Why SpaceX is Making Starlink" [this video] TL;DR -- satellites can be faster than cables in certain cases
Argues satellites can be faster than cables in some cases
[this video] According to this Engineering Explained video, it may be possible to achieve a lower latency using Star Link than over fiber if the points are far enough. People like high frequency traders might be willing to pay a ton for such a thing.
Starlink may beat fiber latency over long distances
This video[1] speculates that Starlink will achieve lower latency than fibre Internet. Latency-sensitive industries like finance are very willing to pay a lot for improved latency. [1] [this video]
Speculates Starlink latency beats fibre, valuable to finance
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