https://x.com/Starlink/status/1861544221683114066The FCC has granted Starlink a US commercial license to provide supplemental coverage from space https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-24-1193A1.pdfQuote In this Order and Authorization (Order), we grant in part and defer in part, withconditions, the application, as amended, of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to construct,deploy, and operate a constellation of second generation non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed-satelliteservice (FSS) satellites, known as its Gen2 Starlink constellation (SpaceX Gen2 Application, asamended). We also grant in part and defer in part, with conditions, SpaceX’s modification application,as amended, to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the United States and to operateon certain frequency bands for the purpose of performing direct-to-cellular (direct-to-cell) operationsoutside the United States using its previously authorized 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites (SpaceX SCSModification Application and SpaceX SCS Modification Amendment) and grant SpaceX’s modificationapplication to operate using V-band frequencies at altitudes ranging from 340 km to 360 km (SpaceX Vband Modification Application).2. Specifically, we authorize SpaceX to operate its previously authorized 7,500 Gen2Starlink satellites at the previously proposed altitudes of 340 km, 345 km, 350 km, and 360 km. SpaceXis authorized to communicate with these satellites in the previously authorized Ku-, Ka-, E-, and V-bandfrequencies, in conformance with the technical specifications SpaceX has provided to the Commission.
In this Order and Authorization (Order), we grant in part and defer in part, withconditions, the application, as amended, of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to construct,deploy, and operate a constellation of second generation non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed-satelliteservice (FSS) satellites, known as its Gen2 Starlink constellation (SpaceX Gen2 Application, asamended). We also grant in part and defer in part, with conditions, SpaceX’s modification application,as amended, to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the United States and to operateon certain frequency bands for the purpose of performing direct-to-cellular (direct-to-cell) operationsoutside the United States using its previously authorized 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites (SpaceX SCSModification Application and SpaceX SCS Modification Amendment) and grant SpaceX’s modificationapplication to operate using V-band frequencies at altitudes ranging from 340 km to 360 km (SpaceX Vband Modification Application).2. Specifically, we authorize SpaceX to operate its previously authorized 7,500 Gen2Starlink satellites at the previously proposed altitudes of 340 km, 345 km, 350 km, and 360 km. SpaceXis authorized to communicate with these satellites in the previously authorized Ku-, Ka-, E-, and V-bandfrequencies, in conformance with the technical specifications SpaceX has provided to the Commission.
Any telco that signs up with @Starlink Direct to Cell can completely eliminate cellular dead zones for their entire country for text and data services. This includes coastal waterways and the ocean areas in between land for island nations.
Not sure if anyone else noticed. But, there appears to be a new variant of VX.x Mini (non-DtC) on the Group 12 launches.Two photos attached.First from the December 4 Group 6-70 launch.Second from the earlier November 25th Group 12-1 launch
Confirmed by a SpaceX board member that current terminal manufacturing capacity at Bastrop is 4.7 million per annum and growing.QuoteSteve Jurvetson @FutureJurvetsonThe @Starlink manufacturing line is the closest thing to a fully-automated alien dreadnought that I have ever seen.It makes 4.7 million terminals per year, and growing. One subsection is the largest printed circuit board factory in America.2:31 PM · Dec 13, 2024https://twitter.com/FutureJurvetson/status/1867653566040858906
Steve Jurvetson @FutureJurvetsonThe @Starlink manufacturing line is the closest thing to a fully-automated alien dreadnought that I have ever seen.It makes 4.7 million terminals per year, and growing. One subsection is the largest printed circuit board factory in America.2:31 PM · Dec 13, 2024
SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink is projected to reach $11.8 billion in revenue next year, driven by strong consumer demand and growing U.S. military contracts, according to a new report from @QuiltySpace
I think it is time to start a separate Starlink thread with a poll on when the IPO will occur.Shotwell first floated the idea of a spinoff for Starlink in 2020 and Elon has stated it would occur when Starlink was profitable and revenue flow was more predictable. We are very close to that point, if not there, with Starlink achieving profitability in 2024. A Starlink spinoff makes sense as a separate business like Tesla while leaving SpaceX to continue with its core business as a launch provider while pursuing EM's vision of colonizing Mars.My prediction is that by the end of 2025 Starlink satellites will be launched with Starship and become routine in 2026 leading to an IPO by the end of 2026.
Quote from: phantomdj on 12/28/2024 05:49 pmI think it is time to start a separate Starlink thread with a poll on when the IPO will occur.Shotwell first floated the idea of a spinoff for Starlink in 2020 and Elon has stated it would occur when Starlink was profitable and revenue flow was more predictable. We are very close to that point, if not there, with Starlink achieving profitability in 2024. A Starlink spinoff makes sense as a separate business like Tesla while leaving SpaceX to continue with its core business as a launch provider while pursuing EM's vision of colonizing Mars.My prediction is that by the end of 2025 Starlink satellites will be launched with Starship and become routine in 2026 leading to an IPO by the end of 2026.I don't think Elon will want to give up any amount of control over any of his businesses until he is forced too.I think he will keep Starlink private as long as possible. Eventually if it becomes large enough with a global foot print there maybe political pressure about a private entity controlling that much bandwidth. However, he has cozied up to the authorities so maybe that won't happen anytime soon.I think Starlink is a trillion dollar enterprise, eventually. One that could throw off ±$20 billion a year in profits. That can fund alot of Starships and payout investors.
In 2024, the Starlink team focused on expanding coverage, increasing speeds and lowering latency for our now 4.6M+ customers and counting around the world → https://starlink.com/stories
This past year, we activated Starlink in 27 new markets, and are now covering a global area home to 2.8 billion people, including those who live in some of the most remote places on Earth
With Falcon 9’s increased launch rate and the enhanced V2 Mini satellites, we were able to add more than 300 Tbps of capacity to the network
And with a glimpse of the future, views from Starship entering Earth’s atmosphere were made possible by Starlink. Soon, Starship will launch our V3 Starlink satellites, which will add 60 Tbps of capacity to the network per launch – more than 20x per Falcon 9 launch today
Damn, so that’s roughly ~1TB per Starlink sat… jeez I remember when ViaSat 3 having a terabit sat was a big deal now SpaceX is going to launch a card deck worth of them every launch!
Quote from: ZachF on 12/31/2024 05:01 pmDamn, so that’s roughly ~1TB per Starlink sat… jeez I remember when ViaSat 3 having a terabit sat was a big deal now SpaceX is going to launch a card deck worth of them every launch!Yep, and that's using V2 mini. The big V2 that launches on Starship will have even more bps/satellite.What's even more impressive: what goes up must come down. They need teleport Earth stations to match that user demand.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 12/31/2024 05:07 pmQuote from: ZachF on 12/31/2024 05:01 pmDamn, so that’s roughly ~1TB per Starlink sat… jeez I remember when ViaSat 3 having a terabit sat was a big deal now SpaceX is going to launch a card deck worth of them every launch!Yep, and that's using V2 mini. The big V2 that launches on Starship will have even more bps/satellite.What's even more impressive: what goes up must come down. They need teleport Earth stations to match that user demand.Rather, it's the V3 that has 1 Tbps on the front and 4 Tbps on the back.
Quote from: RedLineTrain on 12/31/2024 05:32 pmQuote from: DanClemmensen on 12/31/2024 05:07 pmQuote from: ZachF on 12/31/2024 05:01 pmDamn, so that’s roughly ~1TB per Starlink sat… jeez I remember when ViaSat 3 having a terabit sat was a big deal now SpaceX is going to launch a card deck worth of them every launch!Yep, and that's using V2 mini. The big V2 that launches on Starship will have even more bps/satellite.What's even more impressive: what goes up must come down. They need teleport Earth stations to match that user demand.Rather, it's the V3 that has 1 Tbps on the front and 4 Tbps on the back.The V3's sound like beasts, but I can already imagine a V4 that is one full sized slice of a Starship payload bay. Will be huge!
