Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon,
are feuding over their respective ambitions to provide broadband internet to the world. But just
as Elon Musk says, Is Jeff Bezos trying to Shut Down Star Link or what? Let’s not get ahead of
ourselves and discuss this properly, this is “Jeff Bezos' Desperate Attempt To Shut Down Starlink”!!
WHAT’s HAPPENING? The world's two wealthiest men
are fighting in front of federal authorities over their firms' huge satellite internet projects.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, took to Twitter in January 2021, in an attempt to persuade FCC
authorities that SpaceX should be allowed to relocate some of its Starlink satellites to
lower altitudes than initially intended. Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, is one of the firms that
has objected to SpaceX's proposal, claiming that the change might interfere with other satellites.
In a tweet, Musk stated, "It does not benefit the public to cripple Starlink today
for an Amazon satellite system that is at best many years away from operation."
MUSK’s RESPONSES TO CNBC In a statement to CNBC,
Amazon replied to Musk's remark. “The facts are straightforward. We
created the Kuiper System to prevent interfering with Starlink, but SpaceX now wants to modify its
architecture. These modifications not only make accidents in space more risky, but they also cause
greater radio interference for consumers. Regardless of what SpaceX says on Twitter,
SpaceX's planned modifications will stifle satellite system competition. It's definitely
in SpaceX's interest to suffocate competition in the cradle if they can, but it's not in the
public's interest,” an Amazon spokesman stated. Starlink is SpaceX's proposal to construct an
interconnected internet network with around 12,000 satellites that will offer high-speed internet
to every location on the world. In October, SpaceX launched a public beta programme with over 1,000
satellites in space. The first subscription costs $99 a month, plus $499 for the Starlink Kit,
which comprises a user terminal and a Wi-Fi router for connecting to the satellites. Meanwhile,
Amazon has been working on Project Kuiper, its own satellite internet. It aims to launch
3,236 internet satellites into low Earth orbit, competing with Starlink's system. Amazon cleared
a key early hardware milestone for the antennas it needs to link to the network in December 2020,
but it has yet to start building or launching its satellites.
Musk's remark comes after SpaceX director David Goldman met with FCC officials late last week
to discuss the company's request to reduce the heights of several Starlink satellites.Goldman
said in a presentation to the FCC that Amazon officials had attended "30 meetings to oppose
SpaceX" but "no meetings to authorise its own system," alleging that the tech giant is seeking
to "stifle competition." Amazon executives met with FCC chairman Ajit Pai in December to discuss
SpaceX's request to change its Starlink plans. Amazon has asked the FCC to confine SpaceX's
satellites to a minimum altitude of 580 kilometres until the agency "completely analyses the detailed
record on the severe interference issues" raised by SpaceX's change, according to Amazon.
LETTER TO AMAZON In a letter to the FCC, Amazon corporate counsel
Mariah Dodson Shuman stated, "SpaceX has indicated that it is capable of running its system without
exceeding 580 kilometres and has not proven why such a limitation could not be effective
immediately." Both businesses' satellite networks are massive undertakings, with SpaceX estimating
that their network will cost $10 billion or more to create, similar to Amazon's estimate.
However, SpaceX executives believe that Starlink may bring in as much as $30 billion each year,
which is more than ten times the company's yearly income from rockets.Customers
in the United Kingdom and Canada were included to SpaceX's beta programme earlier in January.
Starlink access is being significantly expanded globally, with the firm registered in Austria,
Australia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, and Spain,
according to public records. Starlink access is being significantly expanded globally, with the
firm registered in Austria, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa,
and Spain, according to public records. Jeff Bezos' duty, according to Elon Musk,
is to "file legal proceedings against SpaceX." With the most recent dispute over Starlink. As
the billionaires' firms battle in front of federal regulators over satellite internet,
Elon Musk fired his latest shot across the bow at Jeff Bezos.
Following Amazon's request to the FCC to reject SpaceX's newest modification
to its Starlink satellite network, Musk reiterated his company's reaction that Bezos is a litigious
individual.Musk tweeted, "Filing legal proceedings against SpaceX is *actually* his full-time job!"
On August 19, SpaceX filed a Starlink amendment with the Federal Communications Commission,
laying out its plans for the Gen2 version of its satellite network.
Starlink is the company's capital-intensive initiative to create a linked internet network
with thousands of satellites, known as a constellation in the space business,
that would offer high-speed internet to users everywhere on the planet.
While the Starlink service is still in beta, it has over 100,000 users in 14 countries and more
than half a million orders or refundable deposits from potential consumers. To present, SpaceX has
launched 1,740 Starlink satellites, with a total of almost 30,000 satellites planned for Gen2.
Amazon has been working on Project Kuiper, its own satellite internet.
It aims to launch 3,236 internet satellites into low Earth orbit, competing with Starlink's system.
Amazon has failed to begin building or launching its satellites, despite passing a crucial early
hardware milestone for the antennas it needs to link to the network in December.
Bezos' business has urged the FCC to reject SpaceX's proposal for a Gen2 modification,
claiming that it breaches FCC regulations by proposing two distinct orbital configurations.
SPACEX’S RESPONSE David Goldman,
SpaceX's director of satellite policy, responded to Amazon's request on Tuesday,
claiming that Bezos' business is attempting to stifle Starlink's progress in order to assist
Project Kuiper catch up.“The Commission should see this delaying strategy for what it is:
a continuation of attempts by the Amazon family of firms to stymie rivals in order to compensate
for Amazon's own lack of progress,” Goldman wrote. Amazon has not updated the FCC on Kuiper's
strategy to interference and orbital debris in "almost 400 days," according to Goldman,
yet it "took just 4 days to oppose to" the SpaceX Gen2 amendment.
“While Amazon took 15 months to explain how their system works, it has objected to SpaceX every 16
days on average this year,” Goldman noted. Musk has publicly chastised Bezos' businesses on many
occasions in the last year, accusing Amazon of attempting to "hamstring Starlink" and suggesting
that Blu Origin "should consider investing some money on real lunar lander hardware"
rather than suing NASA and paying consultants. MY ORBIT
Musk is accurate that the constellations of the two businesses are at very different
phases of development. According to CNBC, Amazon launched Project Kuiper in 2019
but has yet to launch a single internet satellite, much alone begin construction.
After a successful launch on Sunday, SpaceX increased the number of its Starlink satellites
in orbit to 1,025 altogether. In June, the firm launched a limited public test of its
Starlink satellite service, which costs $99 per month plus a $499 one-time hardware charge.