SpaceX’s Starlink internet service has moved into semi-public beta testing and has made pre-orders available to the public, with over 10,000 users already. Now, PCMag is looking at Ookla Speedtest data to show where the service is being used.
The data shows that Starlink is poised to make a big impact in rural areas where internet service is currently unavailable or lower quality. However, there are also a relatively large number of beta testers in urban and suburban communities like Chicago, Seattle and Minneapolis.
While SpaceX has a mission to use Starlink to bring high speed internet to unserved and underserved locations, the data shows that there are also many consumers who just want to try out the new option and see what SpaceX has to offer for home internet.
During this beta testing period, Starlink primarily supports those at 44 degrees north latitude and above. The PCMag data shows that Washington state had the most counties with Starlink accounts and that there were few counties east of Michigan using the service. Outliers included Santa Clara and Los Angeles, California where SpaceX and Tesla headquarters are located.
If you’re not in the ideal zone for Starlink service, hang tight. You can pre-order now and, after entering your address, you’ll likely get a message saying that SpaceX is “targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 2021,” or 2022.
When you pre-order, you’ll need to put down a $100 deposit. The deposit will be put toward the cost of a Starlink Starter Kit, which costs $499, when the service is available in your area.