Elon Musk and Tesla are making progress on yet another promise. In October 2021, Elon Musk promised that Tesla’s Superchargers will eventually have free WiFi. He was replying to @JayInShanghai after Jay pointed out that all Superchargers should have WiFi.Twitter user, Brandon Starr, noticed something different about the Superchargers in Lisbon, Connecticut. He tweeted the photo below noting that Tesla was adding Starlink dishes to the stations. He added that this was the first Starlink dish he’d seen in person and that it would be a great idea for Tesla to use V3 chargers as ground stations during emergencies. Brandon also added, in a followup tweet, that there was WiFi being broadcast called “Tesla.”
The Commercial Satellite Communication Office, known as CSCO, in September released a draft request for proposals for “Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellite-based Commercial Services.” A final RFP is expected in spring 2022 and contract awards later in the year.CSCO Director Clare Grason told SpaceNews the LEO satcom procurement is part of a larger Space Force effort to change how the government buys commercial space services.The draft RFP drew about 20 responses, she said. This feedback will inform the final RFP and the long-term procurement strategy.The plan is to select multiple vendors that will compete for up to $875 million worth of orders over 10 years under so-called indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Grason said this type of contract gives government buyers flexibility to upgrade services as providers add new capabilities, and to on-ramp emerging players as they enter the market.
SpaceX partnered with global non-profit organization Fight for Peace (‘Luta Pela Paz’) to provide free Starlink internet to a low-income community in Brazil, according to a regulatory document the company filed with the National Telecommunications Agency of Brazil [ANATEL] on Monday, November 22. The organization is dedicated to support young people get an education to reach their full potential in underprivileged communities affected by crime and violence. “Through the NGO Fight for Peace, Starlink would like to demonstrate its equipment and services by connecting a student community center. It provides educational resources for more than 40 students in the neighborhood of Savoyzinho, being a high-speed connectivity test for a low-income group in the city of São Paulo,” SpaceX wrote in Portuguese to the regulatory agency. The company plans to deliver Starlink user terminals to the community by February 04, 2022. The equipment is very easy to set up, simply plug into an electricity outlet and point the antenna to the sky so that it receives internet data from SpaceX’s satellite constellation in Low Earth Orbit. To connect wirelessly the antenna works alongside a Wi-Fi router device.
There are reports coming out of India that the Indian government is now telling SpaceX to stop Starlink presales until they actually have a RF license for India.
It is noticed that M/s #Starlink (http://starlink.com) has started pre-selling/booking of #satellite based #Internet Services in India without any #license/authorization. Public is advised not to subscribe to Starlink services being advertised. #GatiShakti #spacex @SpaceXThe same is also evident from the website of Starlink (http://starlink.com) wherein satellite based internet services can be booked by users in Indian territory. For rendering satellite based services in India, requisite license(s) from #DOT are required.Accordingly, the Government of India has asked the company to comply with Indian regulatory framework for rendering the satellite based communication services and refrain from booking/rendering the satellite internet services in India with immediate effect.
Quote from: Asteroza on 11/28/2021 10:20 pmThere are reports coming out of India that the Indian government is now telling SpaceX to stop Starlink presales until they actually have a RF license for India.Anyone know the motivation here? There are several candidates: (a) National pride (b) They want some wire-tapping or other snooping authority before they will grant a license. (c) They want a cut of the profits (d) One of the OneWeb owners is Indian; they prefer to support a competitor in their own country (e) Something else
Quote from: LouScheffer on 11/29/2021 01:59 amQuote from: Asteroza on 11/28/2021 10:20 pmThere are reports coming out of India that the Indian government is now telling SpaceX to stop Starlink presales until they actually have a RF license for India.Anyone know the motivation here? There are several candidates: (a) National pride (b) They want some wire-tapping or other snooping authority before they will grant a license. (c) They want a cut of the profits (d) One of the OneWeb owners is Indian; they prefer to support a competitor in their own country (e) Something else In general, India's policy towards all satellite operators has been known and unchanged for 20 years. India is the strictest regulator of access to its telecom market for foreign companies. As far as I know, Iridium is still banned there. usually a local partner is needed with 50%+ shares. Of course, this is not as strict a restriction as in the United States, where a foreign telecom operator cannot have more than 25%...Rather, it's not clear what SpaceX was hoping for?
Anyone know the motivation here? There are several candidates: (a) National pride (b) They want some wire-tapping or other snooping authority before they will grant a license. (c) They want a cut of the profits (d) One of the OneWeb owners is Indian; they prefer to support a competitor in their own country (e) Something else.
DoT receives complaintsTop officials at the Department of Telecom said that some complaints have been received from industry bodies and consumer groups against Starlink, and are being examined.For instance, Delhi based NGO, Telecom Watchdog, wrote to the Department of Telecommunications on September 29, stating that Starlink asking customers to pay a deposit of ₹7,350 so that they could be served on a first come, first serve basis, is akin to a Ponzi scheme to defraud customers.
While I think they will not resort to this, it is still a possibility in case India will not license Starlink...https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1433123220643717120
Quote from: Asteroza on 11/28/2021 10:20 pmThere are reports coming out of India that the Indian government is now telling SpaceX to stop Starlink presales until they actually have a RF license for India.Anyone know the motivation here? There are several candidates: (a) National pride (b) They want some wire-tapping or other snooping authority before they will grant a license. (c) They want a cut of the profits (d) One of the OneWeb owners is Indian; they prefer to support a competitor in their own country (e) Something elseIf India lets Starlink sell units before they get a license, then lots of folks will have perfectly working hardware, that solves a real problem, but that they cannot use until their government grants permission. This will put lots of pressure on the regulators to grant that permission, worsening their negotiating power. Conversely, if SpaceX cannot even sell units until they make a deal with the government, then SpaceX should be eager to make a deal and India's negotiating position is stronger.Likely it is some combination of these. If anyone familar with the detailed politics in India over this, it would be great if they would comment.
But had the Indian government have to deal with a satcom company that is more like a mobile phone company with broadband uplinks and downlinks to individual customers in rural areas? Other than Iridium with their satcom phone service?
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 11/29/2021 09:54 pmBut had the Indian government have to deal with a satcom company that is more like a mobile phone company with broadband uplinks and downlinks to individual customers in rural areas? Other than Iridium with their satcom phone service?//"Hughes India's strategy has always been amongst the most innovative in the world." -Comsys VSAT Report.. see more https://www.hughes.in/
SpaceX’s Starlink unit is testing its space-based internet service with several aircraft and wants to offer in-flight connection to airlines “as soon as possible,” a company vice president said.Starlink is in talks with several airlines about offering in-flight broadband connections, Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of commercial sales, said Tuesday on a panel at the Airline Passenger Experience Association gathering in Long Beach, California. That would put the company in direct competition with Viasat Inc., Intelsat SA, Telesat Corp. and others.
Residents of communities devastated by a deadly tornado in Kentucky last week are able to access the internet thanks to a generous gift from SpaceX.In partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, SpaceX has already provided 20 Starlink kits to hard hit communities.Another 30 to 40 kits have been requested by the State of Kentucky, and are expected to arrive soon.The kits will remain in Kentucky for two months, but the situation will be reassessed if there is a need for them to remain in the area for longer.
A school district in northwestern New Mexico is announcing a $1.2 million deal to provide hundreds of families with high-speed internet.
* SpaceX said on Thursday that its Starlink satellite internet service now has more than 145,000 users in 25 countries worldwide.* That’s an increase of about 5,000 users from early November — a marked slowdown in the service’s growth.* Elon Musk’s company had previously said that Starlink user growth has slowed due to “silicon shortages” which “have delayed production.”
