High-speed satellite based internet 'Starlink' now available in parts of area
(WENY) -- Some people in the Twin Tiers who have trouble accessing reliable high-speed internet may have another option available. Starlink, a service provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is now available in some spots in the Twin Tiers.
This service may be a game-changer especially during this time when many are working from home and kids attending school remotely.
"It's very frustrating! I have a lot of things I would like to do online and we can't do that at the house. I know my neighbors have kids that need to be online right now and they don't have the greatest service to be able to do that so it kind of sucks," said Shelly Rozel a local resident I spoke with.
The service is currently in beta testing, and it costs $99 a month after an upfront $499 hardware fee. Once the hardware is set up, Starlink claims customers will have internet access between 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s, and latency between 20ms and 40ms in most locations. According to Starlink, the system is being constantly improved upon, and it's expected that bandwidth, latency, and uptime will improve. As of 2020, Starlink has launched 950+ satellites.
Compared to other service providers the cost is pricey, however, Starlink would work anywhere and would not require a nearby feed from a telecom company.
"Yes, I would consider getting it. I would have the ability if I wanted to take online courses for my job, I could do that at home and I could do work for organizations volunteer wise and I could actually do that work at home and not have to go someplace that has wifi to do that. It would just open up opportunities for us and the neighbors," said Rozel.
Historically, residents who live in rural areas across the Twin Tiers are faced with slow and limited internet access. For some, large upfront expenses are needed to get telecom companies to expand infrastructure to their home.
It is important to note, this service is in the beta stage, and it is available on a limited basis and only available in specific areas.
To check if service is available in your neighborhood, and to sign-up for updates, go to starlink.com.
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