According to Musk’s plan, the Starlink project will launch more than 40,000 satellites to provide high-quality, low-cost broadband Internet services to users on the planet. So far, SpaceX has launched nine batches of Internet satellites, including two prototype satellites launched in 2018, and the cumulative number of satellites launched has reached 540.
Regarding commercialization issues, Musk said in April that the satellite Internet service will start internal testing within 3 months and open beta within 6 months. In addition, SpaceX also said that the company will first provide services to customers in Canada and the northern United States this year, and then further expand the service to other regions of the world in 2021.
For now, SpaceX’s Starlink project is still focused on providing high-speed Internet services, that is, the company’s existing near-Earth satellite will directly transmit the network to rural households and enterprises. However, this service alone does not maximize the role of Internet satellites. In addition to providing Internet services in the future, more service capabilities will also be tapped. This time, applying for a BITS license is an opportunity for SpaceX.