Welcome to *The Stepback*, a thoughtfully curated weekly newsletter that dissects and illuminates one defining story at the intersection of technology, innovation, and modern life. Each issue delves deeply into a single narrative shaping our digital world, offering readers insightful context and analysis that brings clarity to ongoing technological shifts. For those curious about the evolving art of working from any location on Earth — the new paradigm of mobility and autonomy — following the work of journalist Thomas Ricker provides an engaging perspective grounded in decades of professional experience. Subscribers receive *The Stepback* directly in their inboxes every week at precisely 8 a.m. Eastern Time, an invitation to pause, reflect, and think critically about the accelerating forces of technology. To become part of this informed audience, readers can easily opt in through the subscription link provided.
Over the past twenty years, I have been working from home, adapting alongside the progression of remote-work tools and digital infrastructures as they have steadily matured. During those two decades, I witnessed everything from the primitive beginnings of dial-up connections to the ubiquity of cloud computing and collaboration platforms. Yet, despite that continuous evolution, no single technological development has reshaped the experience of remote work as dramatically as the arrival of *Starlink*, SpaceX’s satellite-based internet network. This service, by enabling me to maintain high-speed connectivity virtually everywhere, has redefined what it means to “work from home.” Suddenly, the concept extends beyond the walls of a physical house to encompass the limitless outdoors — whether that means the open road, a tranquil forest clearing, or a remote stretch of coastline where few signals have ever reached.
Starlink began in 2019 as SpaceX launched its first cluster of satellites into low Earth orbit with an ambitious mission: to bridge the vast gaps left between traditional broadband systems and the terrestrial 4G and 5G networks. In only a few short years, it has grown into what can only be described as a near-monopoly on high-bandwidth, low-latency internet that can be deployed almost anywhere on the planet, from disaster zones to mid-ocean vessels to airplanes speeding above cloud level. While other satellite internet options exist — and more are on the horizon — none have yet achieved comparable performance. Among Starlink’s potential competitors, Amazon’s newly activated *Leo* network (formerly known as Project Kuiper) is emerging as the closest challenger, though it has only just introduced its enterprise-level pilot service.
Unlike older systems such as Viasat and Hughesnet, which rely on distant geostationary satellites and thus suffer from severe delays and inconsistent speeds, Starlink’s architecture operates through a dense web of satellites in low Earth orbit, approximately 350 miles above the surface. Each user terminal — the small, intelligent dish — automatically locks onto the most suitable satellite flying overhead at roughly 17,000 miles per hour. On the ground, a network of relay stations manages the complex exchanges of data between satellites and the global internet. The result is an infrastructure designed for agility: one that dynamically adjusts to natural obstructions, weather changes, and user movement.
By May 2021, Starlink had deployed approximately 1,500 active satellites, enough for *The Verge* to conduct its first hands-on evaluation in the northern United States. Reviewer Nilay Patel’s findings at the time were admittedly critical — describing the network as an inconsistent beta experience, often disrupted by the mere presence of nearby trees. However, one year later, my own testing experience diverged sharply from that early verdict. Using what was then called *Starlink RV*, I traveled through rural Western Europe in a camper van, regularly connecting to the growing satellite constellation. The speeds were fast, stable, and vastly more dependable than the patchy 4G or 5G signals common in isolated regions. Moreover, the mobility of my setup allowed an elegant solution to natural obstacles: whenever the view of the sky became obscured, I could simply relocate.
The practical and emotional impact was profound. That test compelled me to subscribe to Starlink immediately and, eventually, to invest in a customized van so that I could fully embrace the long-imagined freedom of the nomadic lifestyle. Admittedly, this decision coincided with a phase in which Elon Musk — the mercurial figurehead of SpaceX — made headlines for his sometimes inflammatory remarks and controversial public stance on issues such as COVID-19. Still, his company’s achievement in global connectivity remained extraordinary.
Fast-forward to today: SpaceX has launched more than 10,000 Starlink satellites, around 9,000 of which remain active and functional. This enormous density means that even users operating in partially obstructed environments — surrounded by trees, buildings, or hills — can maintain a strong, consistent link. According to SpaceX’s internal data, American users typically have “tens of satellites” simultaneously within their terminals’ field of view, enabling seamless, automatic handoffs between signals several times every minute, undetectable to the human eye or computer.
In performance terms, the metrics are equally impressive. Depending on service tier, hardware type, geographic region, and time of use, latency typically falls between 20 and 50 milliseconds — low enough for responsive online gaming or real-time collaboration. Download speeds range from 100 to 400 megabits per second, rivaling wired broadband performance, while upload speeds of 10 to 40 Mbps support multiple high-resolution video calls simultaneously. For professionals reliant on constant interactive communication, these numbers signify liberation from fixed infrastructure.
That connectivity enables me to live and work for months at a time in settings that once seemed unreachable. I now spend about one-third of each year working from a modest surf shack facing the gray North Sea, another third traveling through Europe in my van, blending productivity with exploration. For me, Starlink has become the digital foundation of an intentional work-life balance I had long envisioned.
However, the benefits do not come without challenges. Recently, SpaceX raised its subscription price for the first time and removed its beloved pause feature, which had been invaluable for seasonal users who travel intermittently. The new policy requires full cancellation between active periods, with uncertain availability upon reactivation — a change that hints at potential future activation fees. Such tactics underscore why the market sorely needs competition; without it, SpaceX could easily exploit a captive audience of rural customers, transient digital nomads, and those living in extreme remoteness who have no viable alternative.
Enter Amazon, which launched its *Leo* satellite internet service for a limited group of corporate clients under an “enterprise preview.” The company plans a much broader rollout by 2026, though it will take years for Leo’s network density to match Starlink’s functional reliability. Interestingly, Amazon — unlike SpaceX, which handles all of its own rocket launches — has partnered with various launch providers, including SpaceX itself. Since the first Leo satellites went up in April, Amazon has deployed just over 150 units to orbit, while SpaceX, in the same window, has added more than 1,500 new Starlink satellites, expanding at an astonishing pace.
Regulatory filings help illustrate the scale of their ambitions. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has authorized SpaceX to operate up to 12,000 Starlink satellites, with a proposed expansion toward 42,000. Amazon, by contrast, holds approval for 3,236 Leo satellites, a total that — at its current deployment rate — could take nearly a decade to realize. Still, acceleration is expected around 2026 once Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s space venture, brings its reusable New Glenn rocket to operational maturity.
When it comes fully online, Amazon’s Leo aims to deliver speeds of up to one gigabit per second, a leap that Starlink cannot yet sustain until SpaceX’s own next-generation Starship rockets start lofting larger, more capable hardware. While Amazon hasn’t announced its consumer pricing strategy, the company’s vast wealth and existing customer infrastructure suggest it has the means to price aggressively, possibly weaving Leo access into the benefits of Prime membership to undercut competitors and rapidly attract users.
Meanwhile, Starlink’s growing range of plans and price points has made its service grid complex and regionally varied. In the United States — where broadband competition remains limited, particularly in rural areas — both the hardware and monthly fees are relatively high. Across the Atlantic, however, in countries like the Netherlands, those same satellites pass overhead carrying excess capacity, prompting SpaceX to price services much lower to compete with well-established fiber and mobile networks. At present, American customers pay roughly $349 for a standard residential kit and $120 a month for continued access. Dutch users, meanwhile, pay similar hardware costs but enjoy a significantly cheaper monthly fee of about €50, or roughly $58. In major markets, customers willing to commit to a 12-month contract can even receive hardware free of charge or rent equipment at no cost, returning it later if they choose.
Personally, I opted for the compact Starlink Mini dish, paying roughly €299 upfront and €89 monthly for unrestricted data coverage across the European continent — the same plan that would cost an American more than double in total. Globally, Starlink now connects more than eight million active users. With some hope, increased competition from Amazon and other upcoming networks might drive prices down while offering users, particularly those uneasy about Elon Musk’s influence, a genuine alternative.
Beyond Amazon’s endeavor, several additional ventures — both private and government-backed — are also attempting to replicate Starlink’s model. Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation, comprising about 650 satellites, has operated in low Earth orbit for years but serves primarily institutional clients rather than individual consumers. In China, the state-supported Spacesail (or Qianfan/G60) Constellation has deployed just 108 of its planned 648 satellites, with ambitions for a total of 15,000 by 2030 hampered by limited access to reusable launch fleets. The European Union, too, is developing its sovereign IRIS² network, projected to include roughly 290 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 additional units at medium Earth altitudes by the end of the decade. Unlike its global counterparts, however, IRIS² will restrict access to EU governments, commercial partners, and citizens only.
Inevitably, this proliferation of orbital hardware has triggered growing concern among scientists and regulators. Astronomers have voiced frustrations about satellite reflections polluting ground-based observations of the night sky, while aerospace experts warn of overcrowding and collision risks in an increasingly congested low Earth environment. Although mitigation efforts continue — through improved satellite coatings, deorbiting protocols, and international coordination — these solutions remain imperfect and ongoing.
As we approach 2026, Amazon’s Leo system, despite its infancy, represents perhaps the most credible short-term opportunity for consumers to lessen their reliance on Starlink and, colloquially, their dependence on Elon Musk himself. Yet that reality may still be several years distant. In the meantime, as a personal antidote to my moral discomfort with Musk’s rhetoric, I’ve taken to donating what I call an “ethical offset tax” to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an organization he frequently derides. Supporting them, however modestly, helps me sleep peacefully beneath any sky.
Looking ahead, the Starlink constellation itself continues to evolve. Each satellite has a designed operational lifespan of about five years before being intentionally deorbited to harmlessly disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere. Of the more than 10,000 that have launched since the project’s inception, roughly 1,400 have already completed their service and been retired. As of late 2025, SpaceX has maintained a record-breaking cadence, averaging one Falcon 9 launch every two days, most delivering dozens of new Starlink units. The company expects to close the year with more than 2,500 new additions, surpassing the 1,700 to 1,900 satellites launched annually during the preceding three years.
In 2026, even more advanced third-generation Starlink satellites are scheduled to begin service. These will deliver reduced latency and gigabit-class speed — capabilities that rely heavily on the Starship launch system achieving regular operational frequency. As that milestone nears, the vision of seamless, planetwide high-speed connectivity draws closer to reality, offering workers like me the freedom not merely to “work from anywhere,” but to truly *live* anywhere.
For those eager to explore related topics, my review of the portable Starlink Mini — tested across diverse environments, from my moving van’s dashboard to a backpack on foot — provides practical insight into its performance. I’ve also examined the complementary battery accessory that untethers the dish entirely from fixed power sources. Beyond my experience, *The Verge* has published an incisive analysis of the astronomical and environmental challenges posed by sprawling megaconstellations like Starlink and Leo. The *New York Times* has investigated China’s struggle to compete with such networks, while *Scientific American* continues documenting how astronomers worldwide adapt to their increasingly illuminated skies.
To stay updated, readers are encouraged to follow Thomas Ricker and explore the collection of related themes — from gadgets and science to space technology and the evolving nature of remote work — ensuring that *The Stepback* remains not only a newsletter, but a lens through which to understand the rapidly expanding digital horizon of our time.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/column/837202/starlink-work-from-home
