It seems a company called Lynk are putting into low earth orbit a system of satellites which will function as cell towers and permit direct communication from existing handsets to the satellite and thus into the standard telephone network. The Whirlpool thread suggests there is a plan for Vodafone to use them.
The thread also states (sounds like an insider) Telstra are currently implementing something similar and are already trialling it with employees only.
If it all works out it will revolutionise mobile phones in regard to remote areas around the world. Timescales appear to be around two years.
Indeed. And the Russians recently destroying one of their old satellites as a weapons test won't help.
Bicyclecamper said
10:38 AM Nov 21, 2021
I have a Sat. Phone, golden oldie, but it works in the Simpson already, no real difference to this new Mobile phone link up to Sat/s as well. I am not a mobile phone user, I don't need to play with a phone to get enjoyment like everybody else does.
Buzz Lightbulb said
11:19 AM Nov 21, 2021
Bicyclecamper wrote:
I have a Sat. Phone, golden oldie, but it works in the Simpson already, no real difference to this new Mobile phone link up to Sat/s as well. I am not a mobile phone user, I don't need to play with a phone to get enjoyment like everybody else does.
The two technologies are different. The satellite phones probably either use a geostationary or something like the Iridium satellites. They are just a few whereas the Starlink and other low orbit satellites number in the thousands. They also get slowed down by atmospheric drag and then need to be regularly replaced. Each launch releasing CO2e gases into the atmosphere.
Each system requires thousands of satellites and yes, it will contribute to the space junk and Kessler effect. Especially if a low orbit collision shifts the space junk into higher orbits. Thus threatening other satellites and space labs.
They also interfere with astronomy. The satellites appear as rows of streaks across the observations, often blurring out the weaker light from the objects that the astronomers are trying to view.
In my opinion this is the worst thing that Elon Musk has done and it appears that Jeff Bezos and other companies are following suit. I'll never use it on principles.
It's difficult to find much information but this thread on Whirlpool provides some:
LEO cells
It seems a company called Lynk are putting into low earth orbit a system of satellites which will function as cell towers and permit direct communication from existing handsets to the satellite and thus into the standard telephone network. The Whirlpool thread suggests there is a plan for Vodafone to use them.
The thread also states (sounds like an insider) Telstra are currently implementing something similar and are already trialling it with employees only.
If it all works out it will revolutionise mobile phones in regard to remote areas around the world. Timescales appear to be around two years.
www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-14/spacex-launches-starlink/100619028
Cheers,
Peter
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome
Sarco
Indeed. And the Russians recently destroying one of their old satellites as a weapons test won't help.
The two technologies are different. The satellite phones probably either use a geostationary or something like the Iridium satellites. They are just a few whereas the Starlink and other low orbit satellites number in the thousands. They also get slowed down by atmospheric drag and then need to be regularly replaced. Each launch releasing CO2e gases into the atmosphere.
Each system requires thousands of satellites and yes, it will contribute to the space junk and Kessler effect. Especially if a low orbit collision shifts the space junk into higher orbits. Thus threatening other satellites and space labs.
They also interfere with astronomy. The satellites appear as rows of streaks across the observations, often blurring out the weaker light from the objects that the astronomers are trying to view.
In my opinion this is the worst thing that Elon Musk has done and it appears that Jeff Bezos and other companies are following suit. I'll never use it on principles.