SpaceX builds its factory for Starlink satellite internet

SpaceX has advertised a new position in Austin, Texas, revealing plans for a new Starlink factory. Accordingly, satellite dishes, WLAN routers and brackets are to be mass produced. Following the demand for automation and control, engineers have to design automated production systems as well as develop their software.

Vacancy Promises a state-of-the-art production facility. Millions of end devices are to be manufactured in Texas and shipped directly to Starlink customers. SpaceX revealed that shipping will be expanded to more than 25 countries by the end of this year.

So far, Starlink has sourced routers coming from Taiwan and assembled bowls in Redmond, Washington state itself. However, company founder Elon Musk has publicly complained about high component costs. Every bowl sold means a four-digit loss. In Texas, Starlink could manufacture more parts themselves while reducing costs.

Beta testing attracted more than 10,000 prospects

Starlink has more than 10,000 users in the US and beyond, having gone into the previous beta open open trial. The offer’s performance is “neither theoretical nor experimental,” assures SpaceX. Individual users will receive at least 100 Mbit / s downstream and 20 Mbit / s upstream, 95 percent of them with a latency of 31 milliseconds or less. Performance should improve over time.

SpaceX only started manufacturing StarLink in spring 2020 and wants to provide affordable Internet access to areas of the world that are otherwise outlined. Due to monthly prices of US $ 99, it is primarily aimed at those in industrialized countries who cannot access broadband expansion.

Starlink customers need a small dish that connects to satellites; SpaceX supplies a WLAN router. The company has already launched more than 1,000 Starlink satellites into space, and has plans for thousands.

Starlink soon also in germany

For a short time now, SpaceX is also accepting satellite Internet advance orders for Germany and Europe. With this, it is no longer limited to the US, Canada and parts of the UK. If you enter a German address, you will see a fee immediately payable of 99 euros and a message that Starlink will be available here from the second half of the year. Then the prepayment should be reduced to 500 euros for the hardware. Another 60 euro delivery fee and 99 euro are payable every month.

(Fds)