Starlink Disrupts Africa’s Internet Market: Satellite Internet Cheaper Than Telecom in 5 out of 16 Countries

Starlink has shaken up Africa’s internet provider market, offering satellite internet that is already more affordable than traditional telecom services in 5 of the 16 countries it operates in.

In Kenya, Elon Musk’s company provides internet at just $10 per month for 50GB, delivering higher speeds and coverage even in remote areas. Demand has surged so dramatically that Starlink had to temporarily halt new connections due to network overload.

Local providers are scrambling to respond—slashing prices, boosting speeds, and rushing to develop their own satellite solutions. For example, Vodacom recently announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile to compete in the evolving market.

On one hand, this competition is driving progress, pushing local companies to innovate. But on the other hand, internet access, much like water, gas, and electricity, is a critical infrastructure tied to sovereignty. Handing it over to an eccentric billionaire might not be the wisest strategy.

Nonetheless, this could be a catalyst for Africa’s technological leap forward. Let’s hope the continent seizes this opportunity to transform its digital landscape.

#science #starlink

Can Insects Reveal a Hidden Starlink User? 🛰️🦟

Starlink terminals transmit and receive data using high-frequency radio waves, which are sensitive to physical obstructions like roofs or even tree canopies. That’s why open sky is a must for a stable connection.

But here’s a curious twist.

Field observers have noted that in cool weather, the air just above a Starlink dish gets slightly warmer due to the radio wave energy. This warm microzone can attract flying insects — like gnats and midges — creating a visible swirl above the antenna.

So in theory, a “hidden” user could be revealed… by a buzzing cloud of bugs dancing in the warm beam of their dish.

Physics meets entomology, and maybe even surveillance.

#Starlink #Physics #Electromagnetism #Wireless #SciFacts #ThermalSignatures

Star link

“On the weekend, I was able to photograph Starlink satellites in the near Moscow region. The position of the sun above the horizon allowed me to capture them… “
@funscience #starlink

https://t.me/funscience/7640