In an announcement on May 4, SpaceX revealed that it has received over 500,000 preorders for its Starlink satellite Internet service, which it has yet to fully launch into the global market. Its founder, Elon Musk, said he anticipates no technical problems to meet demand.
Commenting, Michael Sheetz, a reporter for CNBC, tweeted that the $99 deposits that SpaceX took for the service were fully refundable and did not guarantee service.
However, Musk responded with a tweet that: “Only limitation is high density of users in urban areas. Most likely, all of the initial 500k will receive service. More of a challenge when we get into the several million user range.”
The South African billionaire tech tycoon is known for his ambitious claims on social media. Some have dented his relationship with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and triggered bull runs, while setting social media ablaze.
SpaceX is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company based in Hawthorne, California, founded by Musk.
In April, Astronomers expressed frustration over Musk’s satellites. Vox reported that humankind is beginning to interfere with the unimpeded view of the night sky.
Starlink is a capital-intensive project launched by SpaceX to build an interconnected Internet network with thousands of satellites. The project plans to deliver high-speed Internet to consumers anywhere on the planet.
The project will provide global broadband Internet access to remote places. Satellite companies are launching small constellation satellites into orbit close to the Earth.
The International Telecommunications Union noted that just under half the world’s people (3.7 billion) do not use the internet. Many live in the world’s least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states.
Musk’s Starlink aims to ignite their financial inclusion in the global economy.
