High-speed internet via Starlink, a low-orbit satellite constellation system that delivers broadband, is now available all across Alaska, said Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp, also known as SpaceX.
The coverage map for Alaska has been expanding this fall, and Musk announced Monday on Twitter that all northern latitude areas, including all of Alaska, can now get high-speed internet. The system is ideal for rural and geographically isolated areas where internet connectivity is either undependable or nonexistent, the company says. The Starlink map above was recently updated to include areas where service is active.
Starlink uses thousands of small satellites, rather than just a couple of large satellites. The satellites circle the planet 300 miles above the surface, and they can communicate with each other via laser, reducing their dependency on ground stations.
High-speed, low-latency broadband internet can be had for $110 per month, and requires a one-time hardware cost of $599. To request service, enter your address on Starlink’s website to check for service availability in their area. If the service isn’t available in their area, Starlink will provide an approximate date of when it will arrive.
Dozens of communities in Alaska don’t have high-speed internet, even in places like Nikiski, on the Kenai Peninsula road system, where the internet is patchy. Starlink will allow people to watch movies and play video games. Businesses will have an easier time uploading and downloading data.
Starlink provides internet connectivity to over 500,000 customers in 40 countries.
