Starlink Adds 4.6M Customers, Expands to 27 Markets, Prepares V3 Satellites with 60 Tbps Capacity

Dec 31, 2024, 04:25 PM

SpaceX's Starlink achieved significant milestones in 2024, including expanding its satellite internet service to 27 new markets, now covering areas with a combined population of 2.8 billion people. The service grew to over 4.6 million customers, up from 3 million in May, and added 2.6 million active users globally. Starlink's advancements included the introduction of V2 Mini satellites, which increased network capacity by over 300 Tbps, and the upcoming launch of V3 satellites on Starship, each adding 60 Tbps of capacity—20 times more than current Falcon 9 launches. Each V3 satellite will feature 1 Tbps downlink speeds, positioning Starlink to compete with fiber optic broadband. Additionally, Starlink expanded its presence in aviation and maritime sectors, connecting 450 aircraft and over 75,000 vessels, including 300+ cruise ships, serving over 10 million cruise passengers annually. The company also served over 4.6 PB of data to passenger devices and secured contracts for installation on over 2,000 additional aircraft. Starlink opened a 700,000-square-foot factory in Bastrop, Texas, to support its growing operations.