EXCERPT: *A Multifaceted Look at Starlink Performance *
Nitinder Mohan∗ Technical University of Munich Germany Andrew E. Ferguson∗ The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Hendrik Cech∗ Technical University of Munich Germany Rohan Bose Technical University of Munich Germany Prakita Rayyan Renatin Technical University of Munich Germany Mahesh K. Marina The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Jörg Ott Technical University of Munich Germany *ABSTRACT* In recent years, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations have ushered in a new era for ubiquitous Internet access. The Starlink network from SpaceX stands out as the only commercial LEO network with over 2M+ customers and more than 4000 operational satellites. In this paper, we conduct a first-of-its-kind extensive multi-faceted analysis of Starlink performance leveraging several measurement sources. First, based on 19.2M crowdsourced M-Lab speed tests from 34 countries since 2021, we analyze Starlink global performance relative to terrestrial cellular networks. Second, we examine Starlink’s ability to support real-time latency and bandwidth-critical applications by analyzing the performance of (i) Zoom conferencing, and (ii) Luna cloud gaming, comparing it to 5G and fiber. Third, we perform measurements from Starlink-enabled RIPE Atlas probes to shed light on the last-mile access and other factors affecting its performance. Finally, we conduct controlled experiments from Starlink dishes in two countries and analyze the impact of globally synchronized “15-second reconfiguration intervals” of the satellite links that cause substantial latency and throughput variations. Our unique analysis paints the most comprehensive picture of Starlink’s global and last-mile performance to date. *1 INTRODUCTION * Over the past two decades, the Internet’s reach has grown rapidly, driven by innovations and investments in wireless access [22, 46, 47] (both cellular and WiFi) and fiber backhaul deployment that has interconnected the globe [3, 8, 10, 24, 77]. Yet, the emergence of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networking, spearheaded by ventures like Starlink [65], OneWeb [49], and Kuiper [4], is poised to revolutionize global connectivity. LEO networks consist of megaconstellations with thousands of satellites orbiting at 300–2000 km altitudes, promising ubiquitous low latency coverage worldwide. Consequently, these networks are morphing into “global ISPs” capable of challenging existing Internet monopolies [66], bridging connectivity gaps in remote regions [36, 69], and providing support in disaster-struck regions with impaired terrestrial infrastructure [21]... [...] https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.09242.pdf via https://twitter.com/TMFAssociates/status/1762204942297952382 -- geoff.goodfel...@iconia.com living as The Truth is True
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