Starlink, SpaceX’s internet connectivity constellation, is rolling out at a fast speed.
At the end of July, CNBC revealed SpaceX now hosts around 90,000 users in 12 countries. The news comes a month after the firm moved past the 70,000 user mark.
The figures show the firm is increasing its subscriber count at speed, and recent comments from CEO Elon Musk suggest the firm aims to reach a staggering 500,000 users in just 12 months.
The figures show Starlink is gradually reaching more subscribers, even though it’s technically still in the beta phase. The service offers users sky-high speeds and low-latency internet access. While the current beta service offers between 100 and 200 megabits per second, a January 2021 presentation showed SpaceX’s long-term goal is to reach 10 gigabits per second.
By comparison, Speedtest data shows the average non-mobile broadband speed in the United States is around 180 megabits per second.
The service uses SpaceX’s growing constellation of satellites to provide service. These satellites orbit much closer to the Earth than other constellations, at around 550 kilometers (340 miles) altitude. This means SpaceX requires more satellites to ensure users can maintain sight with a craft at any given time — the firm has applied for permission to launch up to 42,000 additional satellites.
Perhaps that’s just as well. SpaceX’s long-term goal is to use the finances from Starlink to fund some of its more ambitious missions, like a city on Mars. The service costs $499 upfront for a starter kit plus $99 per month thereafter, and SpaceX is expected to maintain this pricing for other countries.
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The firm’s Starlink rollout has picked up speed:
But there are thousands more waiting for their turn. In May, SpaceX revealed during a launch livestream that over half a million people had placed an order or put down a deposit for the service.
The rollout primarily depends on two factors:
SpaceX’s rollout can be rather opaque at times — Inverse regularly receives messages from readers that claim the firm is frustratingly uncommunicative. While SpaceX may officially provide service in a locality, it’s unclear when specific customers will receive their welcome package.
There are several tools, however, that clarify the firm’s current rollout status in varying areas:
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