SpaceX Aims to Extend Starlink to Remote and High Altitude Areas
SpaceX has just signed a contract with its first airline to provide wireless Internet services for operational aircraft, confidently promising high-speed connectivity through its operational Starlink satellites.
SpaceX has signed a contract to provide wireless Internet services for operational aircraft.
The company owned by Elon Musk has been negotiating with several airlines for some time and officially announced the collaboration over the past weekend. SpaceX’s initial goal was to bring Internet access to remote areas that are difficult to reach with cable connections. With this new move, Elon Musk continues to target customers in “high altitude” regions.
According to Euronews, the private aircraft company JSX will install Starlink satellite receivers on 100 of its planes, and the fleet equipped with high-speed Internet is set to take off by the end of this year. Additionally, a spokesperson from JSX declined to disclose the contract’s value.
JSX announced the collaboration shortly after Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, revealed a deal between his company and SpaceX. Bastian confirmed that they are already conducting speed tests of Starlink in the air.
Since 2019, Starlink has launched nearly 2,000 satellites into low Earth orbit. Although the system has not yet reached full capacity, the satellite network is already providing a fairly stable connection for areas that previously lacked access to global Internet.
SpaceX is in the process of applying for permits to operate the Starlink system on aircraft and ships, having already conducted connection tests on some military aircraft. Soon, airline passengers will enjoy stable connectivity, making long flights feel shorter with the presence of high-speed Internet.
