Alternatives to Starlink
There are several companies that are developing or offering satellite-based internet services, and they are potential competitors to Starlink. Some of the major players in this space include:
OneWeb: OneWeb is a satellite internet company that was founded in 2012. Like Starlink, OneWeb is building a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas around the world. As of September 2021, OneWeb had launched more than 300 satellites, with plans to launch thousands more in the coming years.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper: Project Kuiper is a satellite internet initiative being developed by Amazon. Like Starlink and OneWeb, it aims to provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas around the world using a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. As of September 2021, Amazon had not yet launched any satellites for Project Kuiper, but the company has plans to launch thousands of them in the future.
Telesat: Telesat is a Canadian satellite communications company that has been in operation since the 1970s. The company is developing a low-Earth orbit satellite constellation called Lightspeed, which is designed to provide high-speed internet access to both residential and commercial customers.
HughesNet: HughesNet is a satellite internet service provider that has been in operation since the 1990s. Unlike Starlink, OneWeb, and Project Kuiper, which are building their own satellite constellations, HughesNet uses existing geostationary satellites to provide internet service to customers in North America.
It’s worth noting that each of these companies may have different strengths, weaknesses, and market strategies, and it remains to be seen how they will compete with each other and with traditional internet service providers in the years to come. However, the growing interest and investment in satellite-based internet services suggest that there is significant potential for this market to grow and evolve over time.