Elon Musk’s SpaceX is known for its frequent launches, which now dominate the space industry. But what many of these rockets are launching is just as important for the company as the launches themselves: broadband mega constellation Starlink.
Starlink is SpaceX’s answer to providing global, high-speed Internet coverage using a network of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. It is considered critical to SpaceX’s overall goals of taking humanity to multi-planetary space and exploring bodies such as the Moon and Mars. Starlink is also an economic engine for the company, generating $1.4 billion in revenue in 2022 and potentially representing more than 40% of SpaceX’s total business by the end of 2023.
Since launching in 2019, Starlink has gained over 2 million active customers and is available on all seven continents and in more than 60 countries. It has been praised for connecting remote parts of the world and has proven invaluable in areas affected by natural disasters or in times of war.
Starlink’s rapid growth can be attributed to several factors. The company’s vertically integrated approach allows it to control all aspects of the service, from satellite manufacturing to distribution. Starlink’s satellites are more flexible than legacy satellite service providers, providing rapid capacity expansion and the ability to serve enterprise markets such as the maritime and aviation industries.
SpaceX has also announced plans to offer cellular satellite connectivity to unmodified smartphones in partnership with global telecommunications partners.
While Starlink has received praise for its capabilities, it has also faced criticism. The astronomical community has raised concerns about interference from Starlink satellites to optical and radio observations. Some have accused Elon Musk of meddling in geopolitics, while others have questioned the use of Starlink technology for offensive purposes.
Despite these challenges, Starlink’s rapid growth and global market potential position it as a major player in the consumer satellite services industry.