I love tracking the latest advancements in internet technology. Recently, competitors Starlink and OneWeb have caught my attention as their satellite mega-constellations promise broadband from space. How do these ambitious projects compare when it comes to performance, availability and outlook though? Let‘s dig in…
Overview
Starlink and OneWeb aim to leverage low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide high speed internet globally. Both emerged around 2015 to serve underconnected rural users and remote industries.
I‘ll compare their technology, rollout status, costs, performance and predicted future market strength. Neither yet has complete continuous coverage, so it‘s early days. But key differences are already apparent!
TLDR: Starlink leads on satellites launched and geographic reach. But OneWeb promises affordability at scale. Let‘s explore the details…
Brief Histories
Starlink
Starlink is the satellite internet arm of Elon Musk‘s SpaceX. You know – the leading rocket company behind mindblowing landings of orbital-class boosters and space tourism launches!
Development began around 2015, with Musk seeking revenue streams to realize his Mars colonization vision. With Falcon 9 manufacturing maturing, launching their own internet satellites was targeted.
Regulatory approvals soon followed. The FCC greenlit up to 12,000 satellites in 2018 after SpaceX filed extensive technical details. Launchings commenced months later as SpaceX leveraged its in-house vehicle capabilities.
Fast forward to today and over 3,000 production Starlink satellites are already deployed! Adoption similarly outpaces rivals…
OneWeb
OneWeb was conceived in 2012 by serial satellite entrepreneur Greg Wyler. His plan? To eliminate the rural connectivity divide using hundreds of mass produced low Earth orbit satellites.
With experience launching satellite startups, Wyler secured major backers like Virgin, Qualcomm and Airbus to found OneWeb in 2015. Regulatory approvals arrived in 2017. The first 6 satellites went up in early 2019.
Unfortunately some key investors got cold feet on the multi-billion dollar costs. OneWeb filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 during early launch attempts. Later that year though a UK-Indian consortium rescued and reconstituted the company.
Since then, OneWeb has worked to develop supply chains supporting rapid production. 2022 saw monthly launch rates increase substantially. To date over 400 satellites now provide coverage in select test regions…
How Satellite Internet Works
But how exactly does broadband internet from space operate? Simply put:
- Satellites in optimized LEO orbits relay data via radio waves
- Ground stations connect this network to web backbones
- A compact, affordable user terminal links your devices
But the specifics get more complex! Choosing optimal orbits, avoiding debris and managing thousands of low orbit satellites requires next-gen tech!
Frequency choices matter greatly – using previously unused higher bands permits more bandwidth. Ground infrastructure builds out the mesh network globally. User terminals packed with antennas and motors dynamically track coverage overhead.
Now let‘s compare Starlink and OneWeb‘s differing satellite internet designs…
Technical Comparison
| Metric | Starlink | OneWeb | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Satellites | 3,000+ deployed 42,000 goal |
428 deployed 648 goal |
Starlink has >7x satellites orbting |
| Orbital Height | 340-550 km (Low Earth Orbit) |
1,200 km (Medium Earth Orbit) |
Lower = less latency/delays |
| Avg Speed | 50-200 Mbps down 5-20 Mbps up |
30-150 Mbps down up to 20 Mbps up |
Real user tests show Starlink faster currently |
| Latency | 20-40 milliseconds | 70 milliseconds | Starlink pings websites quicker |
With satellites hugging closer to Earth and blanket numbered coverage, Starlink supports faster speeds with decreased lag times. But fewer higher OneWeb birds see more ground each.
Over the next few years, OneWeb could catch up on performance as it launches hundreds more to achieve global 24/7 coverage. But likely at lower price points…
Availability & Reliability
Thanks to thousands already orbiting, Starlink offers decent coverage across the Northern hemisphere plus Australia and southern South America. Metrics show:
- 400,000+ active subscribers and counting
- 98% of population reached across usable continents
- Average uptime around 97%
- Positive early user reviews on speed
OneWeb is currently still in an Alaska/Canada/UK trial phase as it works towards full commercial services. It hasn‘t published uptake figures as global services remain pending after wider rollout.
Butmonitoring suggests both will beat traditional satellites on real-world speeds while avoiding weather disruptions. I‘d expect Starlink to maintain an edge as its constellation densifies.
Cost Comparisons
How do pricing plans measure up?
| Starlink | OneWeb | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | $599 Dishy user terminal | $350 est. | Both target affordability |
| Monthly Fee | $110 | $50 est. | OneWeb to undercut? |
| Setup Cost | $99 shipping | n/a | Starlink premium for cutting edge tech |
OneWeb hasn‘t finalized pay monthly rates but its investor presentations suggest seriously undercutting Starlink once established.
Hardware will be competitively priced against cable options as global scale kicks in. $599 for Starlink‘s Dishy receiver seems fair considering its advanced phased array inside – cutting costs later should allow sales at scale.
In terms of total outlay, expect Starlink on the pricier but higher performance end. OneWeb wants to compete on affordability primarily.
Rural users have few alternatives though – both offer major speed boosts over dialup even at a premium!
Funding & Ownership
Turning space internet constellations profitable requires serious upfront infrastructure cash before subscription revenues roll in. The contenders have funded this via:
Starlink – Internally financed from SpaceX‘s rockets, crew contracts etc so far. But SpaceX did recently close a $250 million funding round hinting Starlink spin-off to accelerate expansion.
OneWeb – Raising $3.4 billion pre-bankruptcy from strategic telecoms investors. Its 2020 rescue deal leaves new co-owners British and Indian government agencies holding equity.
The UK and India likely backed OneWeb to catalyze broadband expansion in their rural regions. OneWeb could offer affordable global internet if projections hold.
But Elon Musk hates losing…Can OneWeb compete if SpaceX unleashes its resource advantage into Starlink?
Key Differences
Despite superficial similarities as satellite internet players, Starlink and OneWeb‘s varying models set them apart:
Launch Strategy – SpaceX‘s vertical integration owning rockets and spacecraft boosts Starlink‘s flexibility. Meanwhile OneWeb relies on suppliers and partners.
Satellites – Starlink uses bespoke flat-panel satellites allowing dozens of launches at once. OneWeb utilizes larger form-factor satellites from 3rd parties.
Orbits – Starlink focuses real-time coverage through lower lagging orbits whilst OneWeb satellites are fewer but observe more ground each.
Markets – Starlink targets advanced consumer and enterprise buyers wanting the "best" solution. OneWeb eyes underserved low affordability regions its network can reach.
So while Starlink and OneWeb both want to connect the masses, their methods diverge. This leads us to…
Who‘s Currently Winning?
With thousands already providing coverage across profitable developed countries, plus extensive internal capabilities supporting rapid growth, Starlink appears ahead.
User terminal sales suggest 400,000+ subscribers in little over two years – impressive market traction. OneWeb meanwhile remains in trial phases as it works towards global services by 2026.
There‘s certainly room for multiple satellite internet networks as demand swells from remote work, telemedicine, self-driving cars etc. OneWeb promises affordability at scale.
But SpaceX‘s clear early mover advantage places Starlink years ahead with a platform supporting revenue expansion already. Falcon 9‘s unmatched launch cadence enables this – OneWeb has catch up ahead.
So for most in North America and Europe needing broadband today, I‘d suggest Starlink clearly leads the satellite pack.
Future Market Dynamics
Can OneWeb rival Starlink longer term? Expanding analysis to the players‘ cost structures and demand drivers shows us:
Expanding Supply – SpaceX targets monthly Falcon 9 launch rates of 40-50 to place over 2,000 more Starlink satellites in orbit per annum. OneWeb‘s supply chain supports a cadence of at least 2 monthly launches putting several hundred satellites up yearly.
Cost Declines – Both expect manufacturing optimizations to cut user terminal and satellite costs 40-50% over 5 years as volumes increase. But Starlink‘s in-house approach aids this.
Demand Upside – Starlink wants premium customers now, but sees global addressable market reaching over $1 trillion. OneWeb‘s affordability focus helps it target underserved developing regions as networks enhance.
So OneWeb could rival Starlink on costs ultimately. However SpaceX‘s clear medium term capacity advantage via Starship and customer technology sophistication suggests Musk‘s firm retains market power.
Conclusion
Despite astronomic costs and engineering hurdles, SpaceX and OneWeb race to expand affordable broadband globally through thousands of communicating satellites.
Starlink leads, with its Falcon rocket family launching satellites by the hundred. This establishes real-world high speed coverage across populated areas quickly. However its subscription costs are still high.
OneWeb promises affordability rivaling terrestrial internet on reaching scale later this decade. Hundreds of launches should complete its constellation by 2026. Performance remains in question though until tested fully.
Still – with ever growing remote connectivity needs amongst consumers and industry, both satellite networks offer huge potential. Maybe you‘ll be browsing via such services someday soon!
I‘ll certainly be tracking Starlink and OneWeb‘s continuing space race… it seems we‘re headed into an era of satellites filling the skies as access expands. Exciting innovations ahead!
FAQs
How much will satellite internet speed cost ultimately?
Early projections show monthly fees declining from ~$100 today to $50-60 within 3-5 years for most providers. OneWeb hints and $30-40 potentially. Cost decreases from mass manufacturing and subs growth makes this possible.
What are the downsides to satellite internet?
Weather dropouts can still occasionally occur with heavy precipitation. Many rural users may need upgraded routers to utilize performance fully. There can also be brief delays when switching between satellites.
Why are thousands of satellites required?
The low Earth orbits used degrade quicker from trace atmospheric drag. Replacing them faster maintains consistent blanket coverage. LEO also supports lower latency.
Who provides rockets and satellites for OneWeb?
OneWeb has contracted satellite manufacturer Airbus for spacecraft and relies on launch providers like Blue Origin and Virgin Orbit to carry batches into orbit.
So that‘s my detailed dive into the race to make orbital satellite internet a mainstream broadband reality! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments…
