Starlink, the Unstoppable Technological Asset of Tesla?

In the race for autonomous driving, the space internet network Starlink deployed by Elon Musk’s other companies will be a huge asset.

Wanting to create cars that drive themselves is good fun. Making a few of them run around locally is not too complicated yet, but hundreds of thousands, even millions, in real-time will be a much greater technological challenge. This will require two very difficult-to-establish pillars: supercomputers (Tesla will build its own data centers) and high-speed connections between the cars and these data centers.

The amount of data that must transit, be processed within a few milliseconds, and then be sent back to each moving car, regardless of their position (including in a tunnel or parking lot), 5G coverage, or weather conditions, will be enormous. That’s why the Starlink satellite constellation, launched into orbit by Elon Musk with his SpaceX company, will be a key component of the Tesla puzzle in its race toward autonomous driving.

Similarly, the Starlink connection will improve the distribution of OTA (over-the-air) software updates, which could then be more frequent and reliable. This will quickly enhance the performance and algorithms of the Tesla autonomous driving system.

However, it remains to be seen whether, within its business model, Starlink will need to open its satellite network to competition. Doing so would reduce its advantage, which no other automaker is currently able to finance.

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