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Network benchmarking giant Ookla (Accenture), which collects data from consumers via their popular broadband and mobile Speedtest.net service, has cleverly used data collected from Smartphones using Starlink’s 4G mobile satellite data connectivity to map the size of their individual Direct-to-Cell (DTC) beams in the real-world.
Granted, this is probably more of interest to those with a strong technical interest in such things, but if that’s you then read on. Firstly, a bit of context. At present mobile operators that harness Starlink’s network of DTC satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), such as O2 Satellite in the UK, use the service to deliver basic 4G mobile data connectivity via supporting apps to some of the remotest parts of the country.
As part of this each of Starlink’s first generation DTC satellites are equipped with three downlink (download) antennas and one uplink (upload) antenna. Each antenna is capable of supporting 8 beams (wireless signals sent to an area on the ground) and 2 polarizations, resulting in a total capacity of 48 downlink beams sent down toward the Earth and 16 uplink beams directed back up.