Starlink, a division of SpaceX, is a satellite internet constellation operator aiming to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved areas globally. With over 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit as of March 2025, Starlink offers internet services with download speeds between 50 and 220 Mbps. It utilizes phased array antennas and optical space lasers for global coverage and supports various applications, including remote work, disaster recovery, and IoT. Keywords associated with Starlink are satellite internet, SpaceX, broadband, and LEO constellation.
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SpaceX held ex parte meetings with FCC staff in December regarding its proposed Starlink license modification, including a request to launch a set of Starlink satellites into a sun-synchronous orbital plane to use an upcoming polar launch availability.
Viasat requested that the FCC complete an environmental review before approving SpaceX’s request to modify its existing license to operate nearly 3,000 additional Starlink satellites in lower orbits.
SpaceX is offering Starlink beta testers a terminal that includes an antenna and router for $499.
SpaceX demonstrated to the FCC that Starlink could deliver internet latency under 100 milliseconds, enabling a bidding advantage over geosynchronous services.
At an estimated $2,400 build cost for a phased-array Starlink user terminal, the $885,500,000 RDOF stipend would allow SpaceX to break even on roughly 47,000 U.S. rural dishes per year at a $499 beta trial price.
SpaceX aims to build and operate a 12,000-satellite Starlink constellation.
Less than $140 annually per subsidized customer is approximately enough to provide a $12 discount on a $99 Starlink subscription.
Starlink can deliver 100 Mbps broadband speeds compared with the FCC baseline standard of 25 Mbps.
The first stage used for the SXM-7 launch was flying for the seventh time and had previously launched the Demo-1 commercial crew test flight, the Radarsat Constellation Mission, and four sets of Starlink satellites.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster used on the SXM-7 mission previously supported four Starlink missions in 2020.
SpaceX is mastering reusability and executing Starlink’s launches at marginal cost, with Falcon 9 recovery and reuse becoming a standard endorsed by customers.
70% of the over 1,000 satellites launched in a single year came from Starlink.
SpaceX’s RDOF Phase 1 award will fund Starlink broadband service to nearly 643,000 homes and businesses in 35 states.
The Falcon 9 first stage used on the launch previously flew on the Demo-2 commercial crew mission in May 2020 and on launches of the ANASIS-2 satellite and a set of Starlink satellites.
Elon Musk estimated that Starlink could generate $30 billion in annual revenue, significantly more than the highest expected revenue from SpaceX's core rocket business.
The annual revenue of $30 billion predicted for Starlink would be a tenfold increase from existing revenue channels.
SpaceX has launched 955 Starlink satellites in total, with 895 of them currently in orbit.
So far, SpaceX has launched Starlink satellites into orbital planes with a 53-degree inclination to maximize coverage over mid-latitude regions.
The Falcon 9 booster completed a final Iridium mission in 2019-01-01 and then launched four Starlink missions from 2019-05-01 to 2020-08-18.
On 2020-11-17, SpaceX requested permission from the Federal Communications Commission to begin launching Starlink satellites into sun-synchronous orbit.