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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Viasat filed an objection with the FCC on 2020-11-19 raising concerns about premature failures of Starlink satellites and arguing that the December launch opportunity was not necessarily the only one.
The Falcon 9 first stage that landed first flew in 2018-09-01 launching the Telstar 18 Vantage satellite, flew the final Iridium mission in 2019-01-01, and launched four Starlink missions beginning in 2019-05-01, most recently on 2020-08-18.
To date SpaceX has launched Starlink satellites into orbits at a 53-degree inclination, which exclude higher latitudes including Alaska, northern Canada, and northern Europe.
SpaceX agreed to limit Starlink satellite altitudes so they would not fly higher than 580 km, tightening orbital tolerances around a 570-kilometer baseline to avoid Project Kuiper satellites at 590 km.
Analyst Tim Farrar of TMF Associates estimates the $499 Starlink terminal is costing SpaceX closer to $1,500 to $2,000 to produce.
Starlink plans to expand overseas coverage in markets with minimal broadband and higher consumer purchasing power, with parts of Australia, Germany, and Japan identified as initial opportunities.
A set of 60 Starlink satellites deployed from the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket during a launch on 2020-10-24.
Starlink 2.0 satellites are expected to be larger, require more power to support higher broadband rates, serve more users per satellite, and include optical cross-links to reduce latency and dependence on ground stations.
Hughes Network Systems’ estimate places the cost of a Starlink antenna to SpaceX between $1,000 and $1,500 per unit.
A reseller model for wireless ISPs and cellular companies is expected to emerge as a Starlink business model iteration to serve areas where the $499 upfront cost and $99 monthly fee are unaffordable for typical households.
Early Starlink customers pay $499 for the required hardware and $99 per month for a service plan promising 50–150 Mbps of low-latency broadband.
SpaceX started a Starlink beta test for customers in the northern United States with participants paying US$499 for the antenna and router and US$99 per month for service.
SpaceX planned to expand the Starlink beta test to Canada following Canadian regulatory approvals.
SpaceX received regulatory approval from Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada on 2020-11-06 to operate the Starlink system in Canada.
Washington State’s Department of Commerce tested Starlink with Hoh Tribe members at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those users were able to use it successfully for telehealth appointments and virtual learning sessions.
SpaceX's Starlink satellites accounted for 773 of the 1,029 smallsats launched in 2020.
Elon Musk is offering Starlink satellite broadband service to rural consumers for $99 per month.
SpaceX expects Starlink bandwidth, latency, and uptime to improve dramatically by the summer of 2021 as it adds more satellites to the constellation.
SpaceX began a public beta test for Starlink on 2020-10-26 and invited early interested users to sign up for the service and order hardware.
Ector County Independent School District in West Texas will use Starlink to provide free broadband to 45 families in a rural part of the county beginning early in 2021.