Qatar Airways has embarked on a pioneering venture by introducing complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, making live streaming during flights a reality.

As the airplane prepares for takeoff, you hover over the screen to switch off your mobile device, only to be interrupted by a notification saying "Please call me back." Amongst your annoyance and anxiety, a thought crosses your mind: why is there still no internet access on flights?

In truth, many airlines have begun offering in-flight internet access, allowing passengers to participate in video conferences, call family, and even watch short videos while airborne.

Since as early as 2021, airlines like Eastern Airlines and Spring Airlines have activated high-throughput satellite networks, providing in-flight Wi-Fi service with speeds of up to 220 megabits per second, enabling functionalities such as video conferencing and online shopping.

Simultaneously, with the rapid advancement of Starlink, leveraging its vast network of low-Earth orbit satellites, Wi-Fi speeds available on airplanes have surged to 500 megabits per second

On October 22, 2024, Qatar Airways operated the world’s first Boeing 777 flight equipped with Starlink technology.

Compared to traditional satellites, low-Earth orbit satellites maintain a closer proximity to the surface of the Earth, thus realizing faster transmission speeds

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Tests show that for the amount of time traditional satellites require to transmit data once, Starlink can transmit multiple times back and forth.

Starlink's rapid development is reshaping the connectivity landscape for cruise ships, airplanes, and various regions that were once considered edge cases in internet access.

Of course, Starlink isn't alone in offering satellite internet services; numerous nations are actively developing their own systems.

China's equivalent of Starlink, the "Qianfan Xingzuo" (G60 Starlink program), has also commenced, with expectations to establish a robust low-Earth orbit satellite internet system for civilian use within three to five years.

Starlink's Ascension

On October 22, 2024, Qatar Airways operated the world's first Boeing 777 flight featuring Starlink technology, traveling from Doha to London.

During a test flight, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al-Maliki made a video call at 38,000 feet with Starlink founder Elon Musk, commenting, "We're really talking through Starlink right now — this is cool."

With Starlink, in-flight internet service boasts speeds of up to 500 megabits per second

Passengers can effortlessly connect to keep in touch with loved ones, watch live sports, participate in online gaming, or work efficiently during their flight.

Qatar Airways emphasizes that while high-speed internet has been available on previous flights, traditional satellite Wi-Fi could not be used during takeoffs and landings

In contrast, Starlink supports continuous dynamic connectivity throughout the entire flight process, thus transcending the limitations of past Wi-Fi technologies.

Be it globally or specifically in China, in-flight Wi-Fi has become quite common

However, achieving fast and reliable network connectivity has always presented challenges.

As of late 2023, Liu Shuguo, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the China Air Transport Association, stated that only over 200 planes in China provide in-flight internet service, accounting for a mere 6% of the total number of civil aviation aircraft.

Moreover, the current majority of airplanes depend on traditional satellite communication for connectivity, a method that leads to significant communication delays and slow response times, adversely impacting passenger experience.

Presently, China is primarily using high-throughput satellites to tackle this challenge.

In 2021, Eastern Airlines and Spring Airlines flights began using the homegrown Asia-Pacific 6D high-throughput satellite network to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service, achieving speeds of up to 220 megabits per second for internet functions like video watching.

As for Starlink, designed by Musk's SpaceX, it stands as the largest constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites ever deployed.

It achieves faster transmission speeds as well; while traditional satellites require a significant amount of time to transmit data, Starlink can transmit multiple times over the same period.

The distance plays a key role; Starlink satellites operate at roughly 340 miles above Earth, while traditional geostationary satellites operate more than 22,000 miles away.

In addition, Starlink’s installation costs are considerably lower

“The hardware required for internet connectivity on one aircraft could cost around $400,000, excluding software and installation,” quoted from an April 2017 report by the Beijing News, referencing the Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Aviation Network, Zhou HongBy contrast, the hardware alone for Starlink is roughly $150,000 and the overall cost ranges from $225,000 to $400,000 with lifetime warranty services included.

Starlink resolves the internet connectivity issue using a set of simple flat-panel antennas.

Starlink's services are offered for free on Qatar Airways, which plans to enhance connectivity across its Boeing 777 fleet by summer 2025 and extend it to its Airbus A350 fleet later.

Comprehensive Coverage Across Land, Sea, and Air

Starlink is not just limited to aircraft; it is expanding its services to ensure comprehensive coverage across land, sea, and air.

Starting in 2022, Starlink commenced its entry into the cruise industry, addressing internet connectivity challenges during sea voyages.

Royal Caribbean was the first to announce the widespread deployment of Starlink; in August 2022, the company declared that all its ships, including newly built vessels, would utilize Starlink services.

By May 2024, Carnival Cruise Lines also announced that its brands, including Carnival Cruise, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises, would integrate Starlink network services

As of now, nearly all major cruise lines and some smaller brands have partnered with Starlink, with expectations for mainline large cruises to complete installation before 2025.

Starlink's official information shows that it has now covered coastal waters of North America, several Caribbean islands, parts of South America, the Mediterranean, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand areas

Starlink's satellite signals remain strong even during heavy rain, hurricanes, and fog.

Similar to flights, prior to Starlink's introduction, internet access on cruise ships typically relied on traditional satellite communication, resulting in slow speeds and exorbitant daily charges often reaching dozens of dollars.

With its arrival, Starlink not only provides fast and reliable connectivity, but also lowers service costs.

Many users have expressed their satisfaction after experiencing internet speed changes pre-and post-Starlink installation on cruise ships, noting that tasks like video calls or movie streaming are now seamless.

On the ground, the use cases for Starlink are also proliferating, with its presence extending into vehicles and rail services.

In 2024, Australia began investing millions of dollars to install Starlink terminals in police cars and fire trucks, enabling officers to respond more quickly and safely even in the most remote areas with real-time intelligence.

In November 2024, the British Clurus Network Group partnered with Starlink to equip the 158 rail carriages on Scotland’s north line with Starlink terminals, effectively addressing long-standing communication issues in Scotland's Highlands

Apart from its service to passenger rail services, Starlink further facilitates real-time data for railway diagnostics and remote monitoring.

Moreover, Starlink also offers products tailored for everyday home users.

In October 2020, Starlink first launched its residential network service for regular household users, later developing specialized products for business and RV camping scenarios.

In May 2024, Starlink introduced the Starlink Mini, sized at 28.9cm x 24.8cm and weighing about 1.2 kilograms, slightly larger than an iPad, allowing users internet access in mountains, forests, and deserts.

If you only need a fixed home connection, the subscription starts at $120 per month

For mobile use, a 50GB standard data plan is $50/month, while the unlimited standard plan is priced at $165/month.

In addition to the monthly subscription fee, a Starlink terminal must also be purchased, with costs ranging from $350 for the smallest antenna to $2499 for the largest antenna.

As of September 2024, Starlink announced that its global user count had surpassed 4 million, and it also provides communication support during the Starship’s test flights and commercial spacewalk missions.

China’s Starlink Equivalent is Gaining Traction

Launched in 2015, Starlink has rapidly brought space internet closer to reality within less than a decade

A small antenna enables seamless high-speed internet access, ushering humanity into a more interconnected era.

However, despite its remarkable capabilities, Starlink remains relatively scarce in ChinaWhen compared to domestic services like China Mobile, its pricing lacks a competitive edge

The monthly fee for Starlink is eight times that of conventional broadband, with the cost of receiving equipment reaching an astounding four thousand two hundred sixty-five yuan, equivalent to forty-two times the cost of setting up a local service.

For urban residents with ground station coverage, Starlink is not a cost-effective option.

Starlink’s advantages lie in its compact receiving terminals and global coverage, primarily benefiting those in remote regions or areas with limited base station connectivity, especially enterprises and personnel frequently operating outdoors, as well as ships at sea and aircraft in transit.

However, Starlink is unlikely to become a global communication provider for all humanity.

While the advantages of low-earth orbit satellites like Starlink are evident, its communication principles mirror those of 4G and 5G mobile networks

Any communication via this method would still be subject to bandwidth limitations.

Each communication satellite in Starlink has a limited capacity for data transferIf all users connect to the same satellites and use up the available bandwidth, it can lead to connectivity issues for everyone.

According to initial documents submitted by SpaceX to the U.S

Federal Communications Commission, each Starlink satellite is designed with a peak bandwidth of 20G(bps). Therefore, with 12,000 satellites, the total available bandwidth equates to 240,000G(bps), facilitating simultaneous connections for 240,000 users at entry level peak speeds of 5G.

Even factoring in the likelihood that not all users will leverage the highest bandwidth at once, the number of users Starlink can cater to concurrently remains quite limited.

Lastly, don't worry, the Chinese version of Starlink is taking shape!

The "Qianfan Xingzuo" plan, also known as the G60 Starlink program, is referred to as the Chinese version of Starlink

It is a project co-led by the Songjiang District of Shanghai, in collaboration with multiple investment institutions, and implemented by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite.

As of August 6, 2024, the Qianfan Xingzuo plan completed the launch of its first 18 constellation satellites

It is expected that by the end of 2025, a total of 648 satellites will be launched, completing preliminary construction of 1,296 satellites by the end of 2027. By the end of 2030, over 15,000 low-Earth orbit satellites are projected to be deployed.

In comparison, as of July 2024, Starlink had launched more than 6,700 satellites, with over 6,200 operational in orbit.

Despite its late start, the Chinese version of Starlink is catching up

Aside from “Qianfan Xingzuo”, projects like GW constellation by China Star Network and Hongqi Technology’s Honghu Constellation under Blue Arrow Aerospace are also preparing for low-Earth orbit satellitesReports indicate that China has submitted applications to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for a total of 51,300 low-Earth orbit satellites.

In the coming three to five years, China's low-Earth orbit satellite internet system for civilian use is likely to gain substantial traction.

Insiders suggest that China's satellite internet services primarily rely on high-throughput satellites