Starlink does not have problems adding new clients, except in China and Iran. However, some customers need a bit of convincing, like the US military, which is currently testing SpaceX’s satellite internet service in the Arctic.
The US military’s internet needs are varied. This is why it is putting 50 Starlink terminals through their paces in one of the most challenging locations in the world.
They will test Starlink for between six and 12 months and determine if it will commit to a more permanent contract. It will also test the receivers in-flight aboard its aircraft, according to Brian Beal, a principal aerospace engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development and Experimentation office that spoke with Bloomberg.
Beal said the military has already tested in on a moving vehicle in Alaska, but he did not reveal how it performed during those tests.
The Arctic Circle is the northernmost part of the earth. Due to the harsh cold weather, it is nearly impossible to install traditional telecommunication infrastructure there.
However, SpaceX’s satellite internet service is available anywhere the user can connect to the satellites in orbit.
SpaceX has about 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit and is adding more almost every week.
The Japanese military is also considering deploying Starlink for their maritime defense group.
