SpaceX’s Starlink hit 4m subscribers

• Published On: 27 September 2024 at 20:11

This week, SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service will surpass 4 million subscribers, marking a significant milestone.

Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX, announced the achievement during his testimony before the Texas House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. SpaceX officially confirmed the milestone on Thursday.

This new benchmark reflects Starlink's remarkable growth, which has added 1 million customers since May, increasing its total from 3 million to 4 million in just a few months. Starlink began beta service in October 2020, with one million subscribers in December 2022, two million in September 2023, and three million in May 2024. The satellite constellation now has nearly 6,000 satellites, covering nearly 100 countries for both individual users and large enterprises such as major airlines and cruise lines.

Starlink is expected to generate $6.6 billion in revenue this year, up from around $1.4 billion two years ago, according to Quilty Space industry analysts.

Starlink is an important part of SpaceX's overall mission to commercialise and explore space. CEO Elon Musk has long stated that Starlink revenue will go towards further development of the reusable Starship rocket, which is expected to enable the launch of even more satellites.

Starlink, the leading provider of satellite internet, has significantly increased its market share at the expense of traditional competitors such as Viasat and SES, who operate in higher geostationary orbits. While Amazon's Project Kuiper and other satellite constellations are under development, they have yet to enter commercial service.