Mobile Satellite Internet - Late 2022 Industry Update - Starlink, OneWeb, Kuiper and more

A lot has changed since our last comprehensive satellite industry update back in March 2022.
Most exciting is that fast mobile satellite broadband has now become a practical reality across North America and much of the globe - with SpaceX's Starlink continuing to dominate the market.
But Starlink's popularity has come at a price - with congestion increasing and observed performance steadily declining across the network, sometimes reaching unusably slow speeds. SpaceX is hoping for relief from a new second-generation Starlink constellation, but many hurdles remain before that will come online.
Meanwhile - Starlink's competitors - OneWeb & Project Kuiper - continue to make progress towards launching their own alternative satellite options, with some exciting technology demonstrations already in orbit now seeking to prove their potential.
Some of these new satellite options even aim to offer wireless communications directly to smartphones with no additional hardware.
So what's the latest in the new space race?
Do any of these up-and-coming alternatives have a chance to steal Starlink's thunder or, at the very least, lighten Starlink's network load?
For the full story:
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All of our Satellite Coverage:
www.rvmobileinternet.com/sate...
All of our Starlink Resources:
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0:00 - Intro
2:05 - Starlink
11:24 - OneWeb
16:12 - Amazon's Project Kuiper
18:29 - Legacy Geostationary Strikes Back?
23:59 - Satellite Internet on Phones?
25:54 - iPhone 14 Satellite SOS
32:09 - Tesla Model Pi Phone?
34:00 - Lynk & AST SpaceMobile
37:29 - Wrap-up / Thank You MIA's
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The Mobile Internet Resource Center is dedicated to helping mobile travelers (RVers, cruisers, nomads, etc.) keep connected!
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[@TNPatriot1776]

Well done, Chris (and Cherie)!! Clarity. Clean organization. Just excellent all around. This is why I remain an aficionado!

[@QuadeQuick]

New subscriber - I don't know how, Chris, but you do a great job making this incredibly complicated insight comprehensive to me. Thanks!

[@Bobs-bd3yo]

Chris, this was a excellent explanation. Been in the business for over 20 years. Best to you and thank you.👍

[@viewer478kll0]

Always value you and your teams insights! Thank you for the update.

[@billbeyatte]

Excellent reporting. Worth every minute. I'll keep my InReach subscription for now.

[@garryhammond3117]

Thanks Chris - A very insightful review of the "state of the art" - the future looks bright! - Cheers!

[@Sirena_Edonismo]

As usual Chris another great video. You and Cherie have a wonderful way of talking complicated subjects and explaining them in clear, concise and understandable fashion. Thanks for all your hard work in putting this together and also congrats on your marathon. Awesome job on both counts. 👍👏

[@FindingOurBestLife]

Great work! Thanks for all of good information.

[@chrisbdudley]

Great video! Thanks!

[@Lighthouse6b]

You mentioned two Starlink services - Maritime and Ocean. Maritime seems to be for Megayacht and cruise ships. Is Ocean planned to be for cruising yachts and be more price appropriate. What is the current experience for the flat mounted $2500 antenna for Bahamas use?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Details of the ocean add-on haven't been released yet - we'll report on them when they are. We only had access to our eval Flat Mount for a couple weeks - no time to take it to the Bahamas. We did share our extensive hands on testing notes with our members in the forums.

[@averagealice8877]

Wow, this is chock full of good information! Thanks so much!

[@chansalyker9266]

Your comment on OneWeb needing a full constellation for 24/7 service is incorrect. OneWeb has paying customers as of last year. We have 24/7 coverage above 40deg N latitude due to our nearly 90deg inclination polar orbits. You need a full constellation to cover the lower latitudes but as you move to higher latitudes we actually will be turning off satellites when we have all of the satellites in orbit.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Indeed - we have explained how OneWeb is building down from the poles in past articles and videos. But most of our audience needs coverage at least as far south as Florida and Mexico, so OneWeb has not been viable yet. I am very much looking forward to the constellation being finished so coverage will s no longer a major strike against OneWeb. Only a few months to go!

[@dtortora]

I was watching your latest. Mobile internet video and the St. Johns Rivership Pass by in the background.. Are you on Lake Monroe in Florida??

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Yes we are :)

[@chuckadams9131]

Just for clarity, it's the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon is the capsule. Also, I think the problem with V2 is that they won't fit the fairing of Falcon. There was some talk about a mini V2 satellite that would fit the fairing.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Yep - I tongue stumbled and referenced Dragon instead of F9. There is a compact version of the Starlink V2 in the works that I expect will mostly be used for prototypes. The bulk of the constellation will absolutely need Starship.

[@Lighthouse6b]

When will all these satellites become a launch hazard?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Space is very very big, and satellites are usually pretty small. But that said, as more get launched - collision avoidance is a major concern that every company needs to address in their applications to get a license from the FCC.

[@erebusrr8461]

is there any information on how much speed, or if viasat, and huges can offer unlimited data or a higher cap than starlink? Cuz if they are just gonna keep the same caps, and limits then there really is no point in them being able to give 2000 mbps if you can only have 150 gb max.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

The new ViaSat and Hughes satellites will have a LOT more capacity, so it is possible they may bring out unlimited plans to compete in the market. But no plan details have been announced yet.

[@Bigfishfun333]

Awesome video, as always!

[@regcrowder9010]

Thank you for this 😁

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Hey Chris as an amateur astronomer, how many active Low and High altitude satellites will be operational by 2030?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Hard to say.. all FCC approval dependent, and many other countries have plans for their own constellations.

[@bobg8309]

Thanks

[@soundslight7754]

- Why use while in motion isn't allowed? - I've heard connection to Starlink is via WiFi connection, but WiFi has very short range by design so devices don't interfere with nearby users. Ho can the same signal travel 4-500 miles up into space?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Starlink has a dish that is authorized for in motion use. The router uses Wi-Fi for your LAN, not for its connection to the satellites. That's all over longer range bands.

[@soundslight7754]

@@MobileInternetResourceCenter Thanks for the clarification. How can a cellphone send data to Starlink then?

[@soundslight7754]

The reason I mentioned WiFi is that I saw in another channel to make a call via Starlink, the cellphone setting was changed to enable WiFI Calling

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Wi-Fi calling is a feature that uses any Wi-Fi signal with an internet connection to place a call.

[@soundslight7754]

@@MobileInternetResourceCenter Thanks Chris. My questions is how can milli watts of energy (without a satellite dish or big external antenna attached) reach 300 miles up into space? In that video, he went out to a place with no cell cover, showed screen had zero signal bars, he tried to make a call and failed, then activated WiFi calling and was able to make a call. I just can't see how that's possible and am trying to learn how smartphones make direct calls via Starlink - that's all. Thanks for your help

[@richardsweat4967]

What’s going on with Starlink in the southeast?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Not sure what you mean? We're using Starlink in the Orlando area, and have been for the past year.

[@richardsweat4967]

@@MobileInternetResourceCenter Then why does the Starlink coverage map say wait list?

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Because many areas are at capacity, and there is a wait list to get residential service. But the RV service plan is available everywhere, but always at low priority.

[@richardsorey8611]

Congrats, weight loss is really showing

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

I will wait another year or more before I pull the trigger purchase.

[@jeffbranning144]

Too bad Starlink doesn’t currently support our residential address here in central Florida over by the Nature coast. They’re making a big deal about supporting countries outside of the US but don’t seem to be focusing on completing the coverage for the entire USA. I’ve been waiting for about 1-1/2+ years and they keep pushing the delivery dates out into the future. I’m stuck with worthless DSL from AT&T. 😢

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Starlink has global coverage, including all of the US. However, many markets in the US are at capacity so they are not accepting new customers until they can launch more satellites. The satellites are in constant motion and travel the entire planet.

[@jeffbranning144]

Maybe because we’re 2+ hrs northwest of Orlando we’re mixed with people using the satellite which covers Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville, Daytona, etc. I’ve been supporting the backend servers for close to 40 years so I understand the issue but it’s still frustrating since we have basically no high speed internet access to our home. 😢

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

We're in Sanford (north Orlando) and have had residential Starlink here for nearly a year. It's just at capacity in the area. We see and hear about frequent slow downs often.

[@kradwonders]

Well done.

[@jamesbuckingham8073]

Until the other want to be's actually get there in space and working why spend time giving half measures talking points? I've not heard of the others in detail.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

This is a mid-year industry update - we cover everything in the works. That's the point :)

[@TheJune51990]

Why so much contras using starlink on the ocean. It works and its fantastic and just let it be that way. Sailors are mostly not rich people but needs internet as any other. Not by the book? Who cares. And who will decide that if one can rich it and use it, let it be. Dont tell me it's illegal and who will control that and how? And by the way, starlink and Elon Musk want it to be afordable and it is and will stay.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Only Starlink will decide what they want to charge for ocean usages.

[@LordWillyGee]

It really doesn't matter how many satellites you have in the sky? It is the Server, data switches can/can't handle all that it designed for 300,000 USA customers in California only, when it had hit 600,000+ Elon going to have to add a lot more of servers per state. But he got engineers that working on solving these crowded problems.

[@MobileInternetResourceCenter]

Satellites have capacity constraints too - it's not only about ground stations.

[@LordWillyGee]

@@MobileInternetResourceCenter (?) so how much data/internet can one Satellite can handle? It has (number of) of transceivers many to home and to a ground server? This is most problem overloaded?

[@_skud]

thanks for the great information. not looking forward to all the space junk that this is adding, Musk's companies in particular love to litter all over our orbiting atmosphere