Brashears emphasized the efficiency of the laser communication system and noted that it provides service to all Starlink users in approximately two hours.

The Starlink satellite constellation, which consists of thousands of telecommunications devices armed with 9,000 lasers, is capable of transferring terabytes of data per second. Although radio waves are used to access the Internet, incorporating laser communications between satellites helps reduce delays and expand global coverage.

Lasers, which support connection speeds of up to 100 Gbps per channel, play a crucial role in situations where ground stations are not available, for example over the ocean or Antarctica. In such scenarios, satellites create a cellular network in space and transfer data to other orbits.

Results of the Starlink system / Photo PCMag / Michael Kan

Despite the constant movement of thousands of Starlink satellites in space, Brashears noted the reliability of the laser system. SpaceX achieved an impressive laser communications uptime of over 99 percent, demonstrating the reliability of the technology even in the face of occasional technical issues.

Laser communication possibilities / Photo PCMag / Michael Kan

During the presentation, Starlink satellites were shown to maintain continuous laser communications, with approximately 266,141 “laser detections” each day. Some connections can be maintained for a long time and data transfer speeds of up to 200 Gbps can be achieved. In particular, the laser system successfully connected two satellites with a distance of more than 5,400 kilometers between them, and during the descent of the satellites from orbit, communication was provided at an altitude of up to 122 kilometers.

The presentation demonstrated the flexibility of the Starlink laser system and its ability to dynamically change routes in milliseconds. SpaceX’s future plans include further improvements to its laser data transmission system, including potential deployment to third-party satellites.

The company is also exploring the possibility of direct data transfer from satellite lasers to terminals on the Earth’s surface; But Brashears acknowledges that complex research is needed to implement this ambitious technology.