[rpmisms]

This is huge. Space-based individual consumer services being profitable was a pipe dream a decade ago.

[somethingwitty1]

You mean like the numerous space-based services that have been making money over the past ~30 years?

[anthonyskipper]

I mostly remember them going out of business like Iridium did in 1999. Clearly the market wasn't there as no one I knew used satellite services for anything other than TV, and that model failed against broadband. Starlink is first time regular consumers like my family members actually paid for a satellite service.

[Maxion]

Uhm, no? Do you think all communications satellites operate at a loss?

[foobiekr]

For literally decades.

Exactly this.

Someday I would like to understand how we got here as a society.

[sidibe]

Do you think these faceless comms companies could have achieved what a superhero's company only just now achieved?

[bryanlarsen]

All current communications satellite constellations are operating profitably now, but they all went through bankruptcy proceedings before becoming profitable.

[rpmisms]

Edited for clarity. Something like starlink existing and being profitable was a pipe dream a decade ago.

[cma]

Is cashflow break even in the middle of a 5 year lifespan profitable? It includes the ongoing depreciation of that limited lifespan I guess?