Starlink boosts Tristan's internet service
Administrator Philip Kendall announced via X on 16th September 2024:
Starlink has arrived on Tristan and it's a real game changer! The world's most remote inhabited island now has internet speeds 30x faster than ever before! Thanks to everyone at @SpaceX and @FCDOGovUK for making this happen.
Starlink satellite antenna fixed to a Tristan rooftop
Report from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy
Tristan da Cunha's new high-speed internet link faced an early test on 18th September 2024, when Chief Islander James Glass joined a high-level meeting of elected leaders from across the UK Overseas Territories - and it passed with flying colours.
The Starlink satellite service enabled James to connect via video call with leaders spread across the South Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific and beyond. They met to agree priorities for the forthcoming Joint Ministerial Council, planned for November in London.
James raised key issues he aims to see included on the JMC agenda, including infrastructure, connectivity and healthcare.
Screenshot of Chief Islander James Glass taking part in the on-line JMC planning meeting
using the new Starlink system for the first time.
Background to Starlink
The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, commonly referred to as SpaceX, is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launch service provider and satellite communications company headquartered at the SpaceX Starbase in Texas. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs by designing for reusability and ultimately developing a sustainable colony on Mars. The company currently produces and operates the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets along with the Dragon spacecraft.
The company offers internet service via its Starlink subsidiary, which became the first and largest-ever satellite constellation in January 2020 and, as of April 2024, comprised more than 6,000 small satellites in orbit.
Starlink's satellites use a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, video calls and more.
Sixty Starlink satellites stacked together before deployment
(Copyright: SpaceX Photos - Starlink Mission)
The new high-speed broadband internet will be a boon to Tristan da Cunha's ability to communicate with the outside world. It would give the island easy communication with the rest of the world and open the door to telecommuting jobs which are currently impossible. This also will allow for telemedicine, remote education, and a host of other things that all of us take for granted.
High-speed broadband internet signals are transmitted between satellites orbiting the Earth and small dish antennas installed at users' locations. Current satellite internet offers potential download speeds of up to 150 Mbps.
Satellite internet can provide connectivity to remote and rural areas where traditional terrestrial networks are unavailable or impractical, such as Tristan da Cunha. Geostationary (GEO) satellites are positioned about 22,300 miles above the equator and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations such as Starlink use thousands of satellites in lower orbits to reduce signal delays.