SpaceX's Starlink is the internet service wanted by airlines, cruise lines, and...

• Starlink is SpaceX's broadband service that beams internet connectivity from satellites in orbit.

• It has more than 400,000 users worldwide and is designed to get remote areas online.

• Here's everything you need to know about Elon Musk's Starlink.

Elon Musk has created a super-fast, global internet service that uses satellites orbiting Earth.

Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink, was launched in October 2020. It has more than 400,000 users worldwide, has partnered with airlines and cruise ships, and played a role in the Ukraine war.

Starlink is also an option for those living in remote areas who don't have access to affordable broadband.

What's the hype about Starlink?

SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Musk, has an expansive, high-speed satellite internet network in space called Starlink. The satellites in orbit envelope the Earth and offer broadband connectivity to users — especially those in rural areas without fixed-line connections.

SpaceX launched its first satellites in May 2019 and now has more than 2,900 satellites in low-earth orbit. The goal is to have up to 42,000 satellites by mid-2027.

The satellites are strapped onto SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and blasted into orbit, usually releasing 60 per launch.

When the service began, SpaceX said in an email to Starlink beta test subscribers they should expect speeds between 50 and 150 megabits per second, with intermittent outages. But some users hit much higher speeds. Starlink has even reached speeds of 175 Mbps in freezing temperatures, high winds and snow.

Costs have fluctuated

A Starlink subscription is $110 per month and another $600 for the Starlink kit, which includes a mounting tripod, a WiFi router, and a terminal to connect to the company's satellites.

The service costs more than what it initially charged users in October 2020. Customers previously paid $600 upfront for the kit and monthly subscription. SpaceX told customers in March it was raising prices, with new customers now paying $710 upfront. However, prices were cut in late August for users in the US and Europe.