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5G is a technology that uses lots of small cell phone towers to provide short-range and high-speed internet connectivity. Meanwhile, Starlink is a long-range and designed to provide connectivity to remote parts of the earth as well. It requires a small disk(pizza size) receiver to connect with the satellite. It can be routed with a WiFi network, LAN cable, or simply both. This article covers a comparison of Starlink vs 5G internet, although there is no such direct comparison exists still we will cover important points that need to be known.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth-generation mobile network. It is a new wireless network that comes after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G. 5G is designed in such a way that it connects everyone virtually and even everything like machines, objects, devices, etc…. 5G network is a wireless technology that provides high multi-speed Gbps and peak data speed. It also provides high reliability, posses low ultra latency, high network capacity, and more availability. More performance and higher efficiency make to connect with new technologies and new industries. It is also designed to enable future generations to have new experiences, new development models, and new services. 5G also expands the mobile system into realms. It shows a greater impact on healthcare, agriculture, safer transportation, digitalized logistics, and many more.
What is Starlink?
SpaceX is constructing a satellite constellation called Starlink. It is being constructed to provide satellite internet access. A constellation is a group of small satellites that work in combination with ground transceivers. Washington houses Starlink’s research, development, control operations, manufacturing, and many more. Starlink provides high-speed broadband internet even to places/locations where internet access has been expensive, unreliable, or unavailable. It has less mass, more compact. Also, it is designed in such a way that it has a flat panel that minimizes the volume. These advantages provide a good satellite launching capability.
Starlink’s real limitation is that it has a fixed hardware capacity and which also wants more satellites and replacements. It is easier to get more capacity with improved hardware rather than existing cable. Read everything you need to know about SpaceX’s Starlink Project
What is the difference between 4G and 5G?
4G is a ground-based network whereas 5G is a sky-based network. The USA wants to beat China in implementing the 5G network technology. So, the USA has been launching satellites as many as possible into the sky as soon as possible. 5G is unstoppable and soon we will become a part of it.
Starlink vs 5G
More the satellites in the sky will be the stronger 5G Omnipresent. Many of them think that Starlink and 5G are competitive. At least soon, 5G is going to be implemented in almost all urban areas. Starlink is going to target the remote areas which have poor broadband internet access. Starlink will be the only best and well –functioning which also provides internet access to these people too. We don’t know whether 5G provides unlimited internet or not. If Starlink is unlimited and the 5G is limited or capped then obviously Starlink will be superior.
Starlink is going to be a compliment of 5G
While you could use Starlink to provide network access to a 5G tower, it wouldn’t make much sense as Starlink doesn’t provide that much bandwidth. According to the FCC filing, Starlink satellites have a max individual throughout of 20gbps and a single 5G client can expect speeds north of 500mbps. That means a single 5G tower that is connected via Starlink could only support 40 people (at max utilization) even with a dedicated satellite.
5G World
Our current internet broadband system is provided to us through cell towers. But the 5G network is thought to be not provided by cell towers. If the 5G network’s implementation is completed then we are more likely to enter into an Orwellian World. Data, Surveillance, privacy would change everything but people won’t be ready for this revolution. You can just go deep into the woods if you wanted to escape from 4G, but from 5G you cannot escape and even die. So, you cannot fight with this technology because it is getting implemented by the government already. Also, trillions of dollars are funded for its implementation. You need to transcend it if you want to survive. Also, a mass and a huge awakening are must needed for this to happen.
Will Starlink be 5G?
5G is a wireless technology and hence mobile whereas Starlink needs an antenna that can point out to the sky. Starlink is good for remote areas where the network is not or not so great. 5G can take many years to reach a remote part of the world. We can say Starlink can be 5G in the future but 5G can’t be Starlink, this statement simply means Starlink may become mobile someday with technology.
Will Starlink make 5G obsolete?
In metro cities no but in a remote areas, we can say yes. Starlink has the capability to obsolete 5G technology but it would take many years. The best possible situation can be is a merger of both 5G and Starlink technology.
Conclusion
Starlink vs 5G both are different but competitive technologies. They both are even complementary technologies. 5G devices will be mobile and are less likely to get affected by line of sight to the sky. But Starlink devices will be fixed which means they are less mobile because of the size of the antenna required. Starlink has the ability to operate a space-based backhaul carrier which is done by supporting a number of solutions.
The reusable rockets can launch multiple satellites. By doing this it makes sure that lowers costs, reduction in the size of mass satellites, and also technology improvements. This ensures that SpaceX is trying to find a profitable business model like Starlink.
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My name is Vemula Chandana. I am from Hyderabad , and currently pursuing my BTech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in Anurag University.
Jack Garbuz says
Thanks for the concise but lucid descriptions of both systems. Most informative.