Starlink hits 12 million subscribers, plans 100x bandwidth boost with V3 satellites

[Shawn Knight]

The takeaway: SpaceX has revealed that its Starlink satellite Internet service now has more than 12 million active customers across 160+ countries and territories around the globe. And according to CEO Elon Musk, that's just the start of what the space company has planned over the near term.

In a recent post on X, Musk noted that Starlink V3 satellites have more than 10 times the bandwidth of their predecessors, and that they will be launched at a rate of more than 10x. Effectively, Musk said, this will result in greater than 100x the available bandwidth compared to what is possible right now. Depending on how you look at it, Version 3 is 10-20 times more capable than Version 2, he said.

As of mid-May, there were just over 10,000 active Starlink satellites in orbit.

Musk added that the satellites altitude will be reduced from 550km to 350km, which should cut latency in half.

The boost in bandwidth and reduction in latency could be a critical stepping stone in communications. "The future of AI and robots is actually going to require a lot more bandwidth than we currently use," Musk said during a chat with JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon as part of his company's recent IPO pitch to investors.

Earlier this week, SpaceX set its IPO price at $135 per share. The company will offer 555.6 million shares as part of its initial public offering, valuing the company at $1.76 trillion. If successful, SpaceX would raise around $75 billion and become the most successful IPO in history.

Starlink will be a key cog in SpaceX's business plan moving forward. According to a recent regulatory filing, the division accounted for 60% of SpaceX's total revenue of $18.7 billion in 2025. Multiplying the available bandwidth by many multiples is likely to attract additional customers and generate even more income.

Significant hurdles still remain, however, as SpaceX continues to field complaints from concerned citizens, astronomers, and various environmental groups regarding matters like light pollution and overpopulating Earth's orbit with man-made material. And actually getting its satellites into space remains a hurdle as well.

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Starlink hits 12 million subscribers, plans 100x bandwidth boost with V3 satellites

 

[loki1944]

Too expensive

 

[OortCloud]

Too expensive

And given how heavy the losses from Spacex currently are, it's only going to get more expensive in the future.

 

[noel24]

1.7trillion. Let's assume 100 years of owning the stock - how much would They have to squize out from those 12million clients if this IPO is not a scam?

 

[wiyosaya]

I wonder how much the price of the service will go up with the offering of 100x bandwidth? Personally, I could care less with FTTH. I know others do care, but I don't.

IMO, so much for fElon's pipe dream of bringing affordable Internet to 3rd-world Sh!thole countries.

 

[R00sT3R]

so much for Elon's pipe dream of bringing affordable Internet to 3rd-world Sh!thole countries.

...what are you talking about? He has many customers in the US.

 

[noel24]

...what are you talking about? He has many customers in the US.

I think He meant US, among others. But, please, let's stay civil and not call any country "sh*thole". They are people, too, even If They don't have all the civilizational achievements. like universal healthcare, social protections, like nearly month of paid vacation, or general work-life balance.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Unsurprisingly people are losing it because one of elons business ideas was actually good and works as intended. And they try to decry the label of Elon Derangement Syndrome.

Every rural area around me is littered with starlink dishes. The utilities have no interest in stringing up fiber. He's already driven multiple dal providers bankrupt....good! Hope they all fall!

 

[sreams]

Too expensive

That would only be true if there were a demand problem. There clearly isn't.

 

[noel24]

Unsurprisingly people are losing it because one of elons business ideas was actually good and works as intended. And they try to decry the label of Elon Derangement Syndrome.

Every rural area around me is littered with starlink dishes. The utilities have no interest in stringing up fiber. He's already driven multiple dal providers bankrupt....good! Hope they all fall!

It's not about the idea. It's great. Like mortage MBSs, blockchain, or AI, or even private equity. They are all tools. The problem is in execution. It's being weaponized, to squize every penny from the market, at the expense of the market. Elon bought Tesla, He probably didn't fathered the SpaceX, just adopted the concept. And Then He turned Them into parody of what They meant for general public. Cybertruck? SpaceX IPO documents, where They claim They are AI technology firm? Please! It's a bubble.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

It's not about the idea. It's great. Like mortage MBSs, blockchain, or AI, or even private equity. They are all tools. The problem is in execution. It's being weaponized, to squize every penny from the market, at the expense of the market. Elon bought Tesla, He probably didn't fathered the SpaceX, just adopted the concept. And Then He turned Them into parody of what They meant for general public. Cybertruck? SpaceX IPO documents, where They claim They are AI technology firm? Please! It's a bubble.

Um Starlink is cheaper than my shitty AT&T fiber Internet and I’m not paying that much for it. Starlink starts at $55/mo. It used to be $100/mo. What happens when launch costs go down 90% and each satellite can serve 10x the customers?

They’re squeezing more money out, but it’s from their business model, not the customers. With a potential 100x bandwidth increase and 12 million current subscribers (rising rapidly), that makes room for 1B customers. And a billion customers won’t switch Internet providers without a good reason, so Starlink has to bring costs down further.

At some point, Starlink can become a tier 1 network. They are able to connect directly with data centers on Earth to improve interconnection costs. It would represent more customers served too (businesses).

 

[pnntmp]

Why aren't all these satellites and rockets and stuff not banned yet???
What are Bernie & AOC doing?

I'm one of the five concerned citizens mentioned in the article. I'm sure satellites cause climate change, climate injustice, racial bias, systemic altitude -based exclusion of vulnerable populations etc.
I demand cosmic action!

 

[wiyosaya]

Unsurprisingly people are losing it because one of elons business ideas was actually good and works as intended. And they try to decry the label of Elon Derangement Syndrome.

Every rural area around me is littered with starlink dishes. The utilities have no interest in stringing up fiber. He's already driven multiple dal providers bankrupt....good! Hope they all fall!

Well, anyone can call it that, and anyone can call the opposite opinion, "Elon disciple syndrome".

Starlink may work, but, IMO, its another situation where he simply promised more at a lower price than he could deliver at that price. Elon is far from perfect. Missing at least some of his target audience - those with the lowest incomes.

 

[wiyosaya]

Um Starlink is cheaper than my shitty AT&T fiber Internet and I’m not paying that much for it. Starlink starts at $55/mo. It used to be $100/mo. What happens when launch costs go down 90% and each satellite can serve 10x the customers?

You must live in an area without hard-wired or even 5G wireless options. In my area, we have at least two fiber providers as well as 5G internet, not to mention starlink. I won't go with Starlink just like I won't go with a Tesla. I'm not about to sell my soul to the devil. The fiber provider I am with already provides exceptional service, IMO, far better than the unreliable crap I used to have - Spectrum.

I'll guess that a big part of the reason that Starlink is down to $55/mo is due to competition. I think it would be interesting to know how much Starlink charges in areas/countries where there is no competition.

They’re squeezing more money out, but it’s from their business model, not the customers. With a potential 100x bandwidth increase and 12 million current subscribers (rising rapidly), that makes room for 1B customers. And a billion customers won’t switch Internet providers without a good reason, so Starlink has to bring costs down further.

We've got enough promises from fElon, I don't think you can speak for what fElon might do with Starlink. Let fElon do that. He's the "expert."

At some point, Starlink can become a tier 1 network. They are able to connect directly with data centers on Earth to improve interconnection costs. It would represent more customers served too (businesses).

"Can" and "Will" are two different words with entirely different meanings. Let's not conflate the two.

 

[wiyosaya]

It's a bubble.

And fElon keeps on blowing more and more hot air into that bubble, IMO.

 

[Beerfloat]

We've got enough promises from fElon, I don't think you can speak for what fElon might do with Starlink. Let fElon do that. He's the "expert."

Would you mind not doing that? It's super embarassing to people who have legitimate concerns about Musk.

 

[wiyosaya]

Would you mind not doing that? It's super embarassing to people who have legitimate concerns about Musk.

Ah yes, I don't give no respect.

 

[yRaz]

You must live in an area without hard-wired or even 5G wireless options. In my area, we have at least two fiber providers as well as 5G internet, not to mention starlink. I won't go with Starlink just like I won't go with a Tesla. I'm not about to sell my soul to the devil. The fiber provider I am with already provides exceptional service, IMO, far better than the unreliable crap I used to have - Spectrum.

I'll guess that a big part of the reason that Starlink is down to $55/mo is due to competition. I think it would be interesting to know how much Starlink charges in areas/countries where there is no competition.

We've got enough promises from fElon, I don't think you can speak for what fElon might do with Starlink. Let fElon do that. He's the "expert."

"Can" and "Will" are two different words with entirely different meanings. Let's not conflate the two.

All of our work phones are satellite enabled and we all have starlink subscriptions. I have no idea what my work pays for my starlink, but I will say im very happy with the service. It's bizarre being in remote areas with zero signal and also getting almost 400mbps. I dont know what it costs, but for ~20 guys to have internet off a(my) hotspot and they can all stream to their hearts content, I consider that money well spent. We wouldn't have many people willing to work in the middle of nowhere in 2026 if they didn't atleast have internet

 

[Hexic]

I think He meant US, among others. But, please, let's stay civil and not call any country "sh*thole". They are people, too, even If They don't have all the civilizational achievements. like universal healthcare, social protections, like nearly month of paid vacation, or general work-life balance.

I’m in the US and I have affordable healthcare, unlimited paid vacation, and complete autonomy (work-life balance) at work to work or not work when I want. What am I missing?

Oh that’s right, massive taxes. I’m good.

 

[wiyosaya]

All of our work phones are satellite enabled and we all have starlink subscriptions. I have no idea what my work pays for my starlink, but I will say im very happy with the service. It's bizarre being in remote areas with zero signal and also getting almost 400mbps. I dont know what it costs, but for ~20 guys to have internet off a(my) hotspot and they can all stream to their hearts content, I consider that money well spent. We wouldn't have many people willing to work in the middle of nowhere in 2026 if they didn't atleast have internet

It sounds like you have a need for it. I don't. Honestly, I can envision living without internet. I've done it before for short periods (more than a week) of time.

As I said in my initial post to the thread

Personally, I could care less with FTTH. I know others do care, but I don't.

And that FTTH? Symmetric 500mbps $55/mo.

 

[wiyosaya]

I’m in the US and I have affordable healthcare, unlimited paid vacation, and complete autonomy (work-life balance) at work to work or not work when I want. What am I missing?

Oh that’s right, massive taxes. I’m good.

Some people are rather touchy, aren't they?

 

[seeprime]

Too expensive

I have many customers that own farms and gladly pay for Starlink. Previously the only Internet option for them, in our rural area, was 1mbs DSL.

 

[netman]

"Depending on how you look at it, Version 3 is 10-20 times more capable than Version 2, he said."

I'll wait for Version 10...!

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

You must live in an area without hard-wired or even 5G wireless options. In my area, we have at least two fiber providers as well as 5G internet, not to mention starlink. I won't go with Starlink just like I won't go with a Tesla. I'm not about to sell my soul to the devil. The fiber provider I am with already provides exceptional service, IMO, far better than the unreliable crap I used to have - Spectrum.

I simply don't care that much about my Internet because almost any service is good service at this point. I have 300 Mbps fiber, and AT&T offers me up to 5 Gbps for $250/mo lol. No thank you! But I used to have Spectrum and switched away for the same reason as you.

 

[yRaz]

I’m in the US and I have affordable healthcare, unlimited paid vacation, and complete autonomy (work-life balance) at work to work or not work when I want. What am I missing?

Oh that’s right, massive taxes. I’m good.

Noone in the US has unlimited paid vacation. Companies got tired of paying out PTO when people quit. You have to be approved for your unlimited PTO, the whole thing is a farce. You also don't have "affordable healthcare", it's hidden in your compensation package. My state requires that my employer tells me what it for my healthcare. For me, my wife and my daughter, they pay $18,000 a year and I have to pay $5,000 every 6 months. I want to know where you're staying that $30,000 a year is affordable