SpaceX has made a number of headlines this year, but one of their most notable advances is Starlink, their satellite internet service that could provide high-speed internet to remote people.
The company now has a timid 1,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, which helps ensure a connection to locations across Canada and the northern United States. These satellites operate by connecting to “earth stations” that can receive satellite signals and channel broadband internet to homes or companies with fiber optic cable.
As SpaceX works to expand its capacity to more and more customers and geographies, it is necessary to build more ground stations to collect Starlink signals. But what do these earth stations look like? Reddit user “andrew867” came across one in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, taking photos to share with the world.
Earth stations are an essential element of the Starlink network, connecting the satellite system to the backbone of the terrestrial internet.
Reddit user andrew867 noted in his post that “Eastlink has direct access to the only viable dark fiber / wavelength service coming to the province of Nova Scotia. Zayo, Rogers and the NL Government all have access to yarn, since Eastlink has sites in Nova Scotia it made sense to We do not doubt that Starlink will create more uplinks across the province to improve coverage from the existing fiber route. “
IN CONNECTION: SPACEX SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED 60 STARLINK SATELLITES
All of this is an interesting perspective on how SpaceX is developing the Starlink system, leveraging existing vendors to make its services available.
A sign at the bottom of one of the domes says:
“Property of SpaceX. Prototype – Not sold or rented This unit is for demonstration use only. This prototype unit may not comply with European Union directives. Is for only technical evaluation. This device has not been authorized in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not and cannot be offered for sale or rented, or sold or rented until authorization is obtained. Therefore, the property must remain with SpaceX. “
In the image below, you can see the SpaceX ID (SPXID) attached at the bottom of the dome.
SpaceX will continue to build ground stations as it receives more approvals from regulators to do so in the United States and Canada.