Starlink will launch third-generation satellites in 2026 — speed will increase tenfold

The new equipment will be based on advanced computers, modems and beamforming systems, and will operate in lower orbits to reduce latency. A single launch of the third-generation satellites on Starship will add up to 60 Tbps of bandwidth — 20 times more than current Falcon 9 missions.

Currently, the combined throughput of all active Starlink satellites is approximately 450 Tbps. Over the past year, Starlink has added more than 2,300 satellites, expanded coverage to 42 new countries and territories, and grown its user base to more than 6 million.

In the US, the average download speed during peak hours reaches 200 Mbps, with a latency of 25.7 ms. Less than 1% of measurements exceed 55 ms. Starlink also has the world's largest terrestrial satellite communications infrastructure - in the US alone, more than 1,500 antennas are deployed at more than 100 sites.

The network continues to demonstrate high resilience, remaining available during massive power outages in Spain and Portugal, and supporting rescue operations after floods and wildfires in the US and Canada. Individual satellites are equipped with laser communication channels for direct data transmission between devices without the involvement of ground infrastructure.

By the end of 2025, Starlink plans to launch more than 400 satellites into polar orbits to improve coverage in Alaska and other high-latitude regions.