SpaceX aims to provide Starlink Internet to Greece by April

In 2021 SpaceX aims to deploy enough internet-beaming Starlink satellites to orbit to provide broadband internet service worldwide. The aerospace company hopes to connect rural communities where internet connection is unreliable and unavailable. For a bit over a year, SpaceX’s fleet of previously-flown Falcon 9 rockets have deployed sixteen batches of internet-beaming Starlink satellites. To date, there are approximately 960 satellites operating in low Earth orbit. SpaceX is currently offering a Starlink beta service to select customers living in high-latitudes around the world. Some known places where Starlink customers received invitation to beta test the network are rural locations in northern United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. Over 4,400 satellites will comprise the Starlink broadband constellation; as more satellites are deployed to low Earth orbit, the company will be able to invite more potential customers to beta test Starlink. SpaceX is expected to launch 120 satellites per month this year. 

According to a report by a Greek news site, Kathimerini, SpaceX submitted a request with the country’s regulatory agencies – the Hellenic Telecommunications and Posts Commission (EETT) and the Digital Governance Ministry – to request a service and operation license, Kathimerini reported on December 7. SpaceX aims to provide Starlink internet to Greece by April this year. On January 2nd The Greek City Times reported the company said in a statement: “Fast satellite internet will be brought to everyone in Greece, and the coverage of all Greek territories by the satellites of the Starlink program of SpaceX is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2021.” SpaceX representatives also told The Greek City Times that “the entry of Starlink in the market of internet connection services is expected to cause a great shock in the Greek telecommunications market, and even though we project that it will be priced somewhat more expensive – estimated at about 20% more expensive than current internet providers – it will provide 100% coverage of the Greek territory and will bring speeds that reach up to 150 Mbps [megabits per second]," the report states.

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Starlink customers receive internet from the satellites that operate at an altitude of approximately 550-kilometers above Earth via a Starlink Kit. The kit includes a phased-array antenna dish, mounting tripod, and a Wi-Fi router device that enables users to connect the network wirelessly to multiple devices. During a Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ discussion, SpaceX engineers shared the company plans to roll out a wider Starlink Public Beta service in January. "Steadily increasing network access overtime to bring in as many people as possible," the SpaceX engineer stated, "Notably we're planning to move from a limited beta to a wider beta in late January, should give more users an opportunity to participate," they said. You can sign-up via Starlink.com to receive updates about when service will be available in your area.