History of Starlink in Timeline
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, a subsidiary of SpaceX. It provides internet coverage to over 100 countries and territories, with aspirations of global mobile broadband. The project has been crucial to SpaceX's overall growth and development as a company. In essence, Starlink leverages a network of satellites to deliver internet services to areas with limited or no terrestrial internet infrastructure.
2012: Starlink name inspired by The Fault in Our Stars
In 2012, the name Starlink was trademarked in the United States and was inspired by the novel "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green.
June 2014: Discussions between Musk, Wyler break down
In June 2014, discussions between Elon Musk and Greg Wyler about a satellite constellation broke down.
January 2015: Starlink publicly announced
In January 2015, Starlink was publicly announced with the opening of the SpaceX satellite development facility in Redmond, Washington.
February 2015: Analysts questioned established geosynchronous orbit communications satellite fleet operators
In February 2015, financial analysts inquired with established geosynchronous orbit communications satellite fleet operators about their strategies for addressing the competitive challenges posed by SpaceX and OneWeb's low Earth orbit communication satellites.
June 2015: SpaceX Announces Plans for First Demonstration Satellites
At the time of the June 2015 announcement, SpaceX had stated plans to launch the first two demonstration satellites in 2016.
October 2015: Business case for the long-term rollout of an operational satellite network was still in an early phase
In October 2015, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell indicated that while development continues, the business case for the long-term rollout of an operational satellite network was still in an early phase.
2015: Samsung outlined a 4,600-satellite constellation
In 2015, Samsung outlined a proposal for a 4,600-satellite constellation orbiting at 1,400 km, aiming to provide a zettabyte per month capacity worldwide. Telesat also announced a smaller 117 satellite constellation with plans to deliver initial service in 2021.
July 2016: SpaceX acquired creative space in Irvine, California
In July 2016, SpaceX acquired an additional 740 m creative space in Irvine, California (Orange County).
October 2016: Satellite division focused on low-cost user equipment
By October 2016, the satellite division was focusing on achieving a sufficiently low-cost design for the user equipment.
November 2016: SpaceX filed FCC application for NGSO satellite system
In November 2016, SpaceX filed an application with the FCC for a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite system.
2016: SpaceX Confirmed connection to STEAM and Filed Application to license Starlink with the FCC.
In 2016, SpaceX confirmed the connection to STEAM and filed an application to license Starlink with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
January 2017: SpaceX had taken on a second facility in Redmond
By January 2017, SpaceX had taken on a second facility of 2,800 m in Redmond.
January 2017: SpaceX expected annual revenue from Starlink to reach $12 billion by 2022
In January 2017, SpaceX expected annual revenue from Starlink to reach $12 billion by 2022.
March 2017: SpaceX Files Plans for V-band Satellites
In March 2017, SpaceX filed plans with the FCC to field a second orbital shell of more than 7,500 V-band satellites in non-geosynchronous orbits to provide communications services.
September 2017: FCC ruled half the constellation must be in orbit within six years
In September 2017, the FCC ruled that half of the constellation must be in orbit within six years to comply with licensing terms.
October 2017: Market players cancel planned investments in new geosynchronous orbit broadband communications satellites
By October 2017, the anticipation of significant capacity increases from emerging lower-altitude broadband constellations led market participants to cancel some of their planned investments in new geosynchronous orbit broadband communications satellites.
2017: SpaceX filed documents with the FCC to clarify their space debris mitigation plan
In late 2017, SpaceX filed documents with the FCC to clarify their space debris mitigation plan.
February 2018: Launch of two test satellites
In February 2018, SpaceX launched two test satellites.
March 2018: FCC approved initial 4,425 satellites
In March 2018, the FCC granted SpaceX approval for the initial 4,425 satellites, with conditions.
May 2018: SpaceX estimated Starlink constellation cost at US$10 billion
In May 2018, SpaceX estimated that designing, building, and deploying the Starlink constellation would cost at least US$10 billion.
May 2018: SpaceX estimated total cost of designing and deploying constellation at US$10 billion
In May 2018, SpaceX estimated the total cost of designing, building and deploying the constellation would be at least US$10 billion.
May 2018: SpaceX expected total cost to approach $10 billion
In May 2018, SpaceX expected the total cost of development and buildout of the constellation to approach $10 billion.
August 2018: SpaceX consolidated Seattle operations at Redmond Ridge Corporate Center
In August 2018, SpaceX consolidated all their Seattle-area operations with a move to a larger three-building facility at Redmond Ridge Corporate Center.
November 2018: Amazon announced AWS ground station unit
In November 2018, Amazon announced the AWS ground station unit.
November 2018: SpaceX Announces Plans for Initial Satellite Shell
In November 2018, SpaceX announced they would like to operate an initial shell of about 1600 satellites in the constellation at about 550 km orbital altitude, at an altitude similar to the orbits Tintin A and B stayed in.
November 2018: Regulatory Approval for V-band Satellites
In November 2018, SpaceX received U.S. regulatory approval to deploy 7,518 V-band broadband satellites, in addition to the 4,425 approved earlier. At the same time, SpaceX also requested the ability to alter its previously granted license to operate approximately 1,600 of the 4,425 Ka-/Ku-band satellites.
February 2019: Request for License to Operate Earth Stations
In February 2019, SpaceX Services Incorporated, filed a request with the FCC to receive a license for the operation of up to a million fixed satellite Earth stations to communicate with the Starlink system.
April 2019: Amazon announced Project Kuiper
In April 2019, Amazon revealed plans for a large broadband internet satellite constellation named "Project Kuiper", with the intention to launch 3,236 satellites over the next decade. This constellation would work in conjunction with Amazon's existing network of twelve satellite ground station facilities.
April 2019: FCC Approves Nearly 12,000 Satellites in Three Orbital Shells
In April 2019, the FCC approved the request, giving approval to place nearly 12,000 satellites in three orbital shells.
May 2019: Launch of 60 Starlink v0.9 Satellites
In May 2019, the 60 Starlink v0.9 satellites were launched.
May 2019: First batch of 60 operational Starlink satellites launched
In May 2019, the first batch of 60 operational Starlink satellites were launched.
May 2019: First 60 Satellites Launched into 550 km Orbit
SpaceX launched the first 60 Starlink satellites of the constellation in May 2019 into a 550 km orbit.
June 2019: SpaceX Applies for License to Test Ground Terminals
In June 2019, SpaceX applied to the FCC for a license to test up to 270 ground terminals – 70 nationwide across the United States and 200 in Washington state at SpaceX employee homes – and aircraft-borne antenna operation from four distributed United States airfields; as well as five ground-to-ground test locations.
October 15, 2019: FCC Filings for Additional Satellites and First Tweet Via Starlink
On October 15, 2019, the United States FCC submitted filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on SpaceX's behalf to arrange spectrum for 30,000 additional Starlink satellites. That month, Musk publicly tested the Starlink network by using an Internet connection routed through the network to post a first tweet to social media site Twitter.
November 2019: Launch of Starlink v1.0 Satellites
The Starlink v1.0 satellites have been launched since November 2019, and include additional characteristics.
November 20, 2019: CTIO recorded strong signal loss and the appearance of 19 white lines on a DECam shot
On November 20, 2019, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory's Blanco telescope detected significant signal loss and 19 white lines on a DECam shot. These anomalies correlated with the transit of a Starlink satellite train launched a week prior, marking an early observation of potential interference from the satellites.
2019: SpaceX transitioned satellite efforts to manufacturing
By late 2019, SpaceX was transitioning their satellite efforts from research and development to manufacturing.
2019: SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites
In 2019, SpaceX initiated the launch of Starlink satellites.
March 2020: SpaceX Reports Producing Six Satellites Per Day
In March 2020, SpaceX reported producing six Starlink satellites per day.
April 2020: SpaceX Requests to Lower Satellite Orbits
In April 2020, SpaceX requested to lower all other higher Starlink satellite orbits to about 550 km. In April 2020, SpaceX modified the architecture of the Starlink network. SpaceX submitted an application to the FCC proposing to operate more satellites in lower orbits in the first phase than the FCC previously authorized. The first phase will still include 1,440 satellites in the first shell orbiting at 550 km in planes inclined 53.0°, with no change to the first shell of the constellation launched largely in 2020. SpaceX also applied in the United States for use of the E-band in their constellation.
April 17, 2020: SpaceX to test new methods of mitigating light pollution
On April 17, 2020, SpaceX announced in an FCC filing that it would test new methods to reduce light pollution from its Starlink satellites. They also committed to providing satellite tracking data to astronomers, enabling better coordination with satellite movements during observations.
April 27, 2020: Musk announced sunshade designed to reduce the brightness of Starlink satellites
On April 27, 2020, Elon Musk announced the introduction of a sunshade designed to diminish the brightness of Starlink satellites, aimed at mitigating concerns about light pollution and its impact on astronomical observations.
June 2020: Customer Antennas Seen Online
In June 2020, photographs of Starlink customer antennas were first seen on the internet. This supported earlier statements by SpaceX CEO Musk that the terminals would look like a "UFO on a stick."
July 2020: FCC Approvals for Five Ground Stations
As of July 2020, SpaceX had approvals from the FCC for five ground stations in the United States, out of at least 32 applied for.
July 2020: Limited beta internet service opened to invitees
In July 2020, Starlink's limited beta internet service was opened to invitees from the public.
September 2020: SpaceX Applies to Put Terminals on Ships
In September 2020, SpaceX applied for permission to put Starlink terminals on 10 of its ships with the expectation of entering the maritime market in the future.
October 2020: Starlink "Better Than Nothing Beta" Launched in the U.S.
In October 2020, SpaceX launched a paid-for beta service in the U.S. called "Better Than Nothing Beta", charging $499 for a user terminal, with expected service of "50 to 150 Mbit/s and latency from 20 to 40 ms over the next several months".
October 2020: Wider public beta launched
In October 2020, a wider public beta was launched, where beta testers were charged the full monthly cost.
October 2020: SpaceX awarded contract to develop missile tracking satellites
In October 2020, the SDA awarded SpaceX an initial $150 million dual-use contract to develop 4 satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
2020: No public information had been released about the Samsung constellation
By 2020, no more public information had been released about the Samsung constellation.
2020: SpaceX hired Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
In 2020, SpaceX hired retired four-star general Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, who is associated with Starlink's military satellite development.
2020: Starlink terminal production delayed by global chip shortage
In 2020, Starlink terminal production being delayed by the 2020–2023 global chip shortage led to only 5,000 subscribers for the last two months of 2021 but this was soon resolved.
2020: Air Force used Starlink in support of its Advanced Battlefield management system during a live-fire exercise
In 2020, the Air Force used Starlink in support of its Advanced Battlefield management system during a live-fire exercise, demonstrating Starlink connected to a "variety of air and terrestrial assets" including the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
2020: Expected Continuous Coverage with 720 Satellites
SpaceX expected continuous coverage in 2020 with 720 Starlink satellites (12 x 60) in orbit.
January 2021: Brightness at 31% of the original design
A January 2021 study found that the brightness of the Starlink satellites was at 31% of the original design.
January 2021: Beta Service Extended to the United Kingdom
From January 2021, the paid-for "Better Than Nothing Beta" service was extended to other continents, starting with the United Kingdom.
January 24, 2021: Launch of Starlink v1.5 Satellites
The Starlink v1.5 satellites have been launched since January 24, 2021, and include additional characteristics.
February 2021: NRECA urged the FCC to "actively, and aggressively, and thoughtfully vet" the subsidy applications of SpaceX
In February 2021, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) urged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to thoroughly examine the subsidy applications of SpaceX and other broadband providers, particularly within the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). Concerns were raised about service to non-rural locations and the unproven nature of Starlink's technology.
March 2021: SpaceX submitted application for mobile variations of terminal
In March 2021, SpaceX submitted an application to the FCC for mobile variations of their terminal designed for vehicles, vessels and aircraft.
April 2021: FCC Approves Use of E-band
In April 2021, The FCC approved the SpaceX application in the United States for use of the E-band in their constellation.
May 2021: Study finds interference from fast-moving transmitting stations
According to a May 2021 study, a large number of fast-moving transmitting stations, namely satellites, will cause further interference. New analysis methods could mitigate some of these effects, but data loss is inevitable, increasing the time needed for each study and limiting the overall amount of science done.
May 2021: Testing mobile Starlink transceivers on a rocket prototype
In May 2021, SpaceX tested high-altitude low-velocity mobile use on a rocket prototype.
2021: SpaceX Preparing for Starlink v2 Production
By early 2021, SpaceX was preparing for the production of Starlink v2 satellites, which Musk stated would be an order of magnitude better than Starlink 1 in terms of communications bandwidth.
2021: Chinese authorities lodged a complaint with the United Nations
In 2021, Chinese authorities filed a complaint with the United Nations stating that their space station had to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid Starlink satellites. Chinese delegates said that the continuously maneuvering Starlink satellites posed a collision risk, and two close encounters in July and October endangered the health of astronauts aboard the Chinese Tiangong space station.
2021: Starlink terminal production delayed by global chip shortage
In 2021, Starlink terminal production being delayed by the 2020–2023 global chip shortage led to only 5,000 subscribers for the last two months of 2021 but this was soon resolved.
2021: Telesat plans to deliver initial service
In 2021, Telesat plans to deliver initial service with a 117 satellite constellation.
2021: Pre-orders opened to the public in the US and Canada
In early 2021, pre-orders were first opened to the public in the United States and Canada.
January 2022: SpaceX deployed four national security satellites for the U.S. government
In January 2022, SpaceX deployed four national security satellites for the U.S. government on their Transporter-3 rideshare mission.
February 3, 2022: Launch of Starlink Group 4-7
On February 3, 2022, 49 Starlink satellites were launched as Starlink Group 4–7.
February 8, 2022: NTIA warning about the potential impact on low Earth orbit
On February 8, 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), representing NASA and the NSF, submitted a formal letter to the FCC. This letter warned about potential impacts of satellite constellations like Starlink on low Earth orbit, including increased collision risks, effects on science missions and rocket launches, and issues with the International Space Station and radio frequencies.
February 2022: IAU established a center to help astronomers deal with the adverse effects of satellite constellations such as Starlink
In February 2022, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a center dedicated to assisting astronomers in managing the negative effects of satellite constellations like Starlink. The center's work includes developing software tools, advancing policies, community outreach and industry collaboration on relevant technologies.
May 2022: Average Starlink satellite had conducted fewer than three collision-avoidance maneuvers
As of May 2022, reports indicated that the average Starlink satellite had performed fewer than three collision-avoidance maneuvers over the preceding six months, raising concerns about the management of space debris and collision risks in low Earth orbit.
May 2022: Chinese military researchers published a strategy for destroying Starlink constellation
In May 2022, Chinese military researchers published an article describing a strategy for destroying the Starlink constellation if they threaten national security.
June 2022: IAU released a website for astronomers to deal with some adverse effects via satellite tracking
In June 2022, the IAU launched a website designed to assist astronomers in mitigating adverse effects of satellite constellations through satellite tracking. This tool enables astronomers to track satellites, allowing them to avoid or time observations to minimize impacts on their research.
July 2022: Starlink Maritime service launched for internet access on the open ocean
In July 2022, Starlink Maritime became available, providing internet access on the open ocean, with speeds of 350 Mbit/s, requiring purchase of a maritime-grade $10,000 user terminal and a $5,000 monthly service fee.
August 2022: SpaceX lowered monthly service costs for users in select countries
In August 2022, SpaceX lowered monthly service costs for Starlink users in select countries, including Brazil and Chile, where monthly fees decreased by about 50%.
August 2022: SpaceX Files for Gen2 Satellites with Two Form Factors
In August 2022, SpaceX made formal regulatory filings with the FCC indicating they would build satellites of the second-generation (Gen2) constellation in two different form factors: one for launching on Falcon 9, and one for launching on Starship.
August 2022: Security Specialist Presents Starlink Terminal Technical Details
In August 2022, security specialist Lennert Wouters presented several technical architecture details about the then-current Starlink terminals, including the Catson chip, digital beam formers, and other components.
August 2022: $885.5 million aid package revoked by the FCC
In August 2022, the $885.5 million aid package was revoked by the FCC, with the FCC stating that Starlink "failed to demonstrate" its ability to deliver the promised service.
September 2022: Original scheduled launch of first batch of missile tracking satellites
The first batch of satellites were originally scheduled to launch September 2022 to form part of the Tracking Layer Tranche 0 of the U.S. Space Force's National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA), a network of satellites performing various roles including missile tracking.
October 2022: Musk tweets about number of Starlink terminals in Iran
In October 2022, Elon Musk tweeted that the number of Starlink terminals operating within Iran was "approaching 100". This tweet was later cited by Iran as evidence that SpaceX was capable of determining the location of their user terminals.
December 1, 2022: FCC approved launch of initial 7500 Gen2 satellites
On December 1, 2022, the FCC issued an approval for SpaceX to launch the initial 7500 satellites for its second-generation (Gen2) constellation.
December 2022: SpaceX announced Starshield
In December 2022, SpaceX announced Starshield, a separate Starlink service designed for government entities and military agencies.
December 2022: Starlink reaches 1 million subscribers
In December 2022, Starlink announced reaching more than 1 million subscribers.
2022: Starlink speeds degraded
According to internet analysis company Ookla, Starlink speeds degraded during the first half of 2022 as more customers signed up for the service. SpaceX stated that speeds will improve as more satellites are deployed.
2022: V-band Plans Withdrawn
By 2022, SpaceX had withdrawn plans to field the 7,518-satellite V-band system, superseding it with a more comprehensive design for a second-generation (Gen2) Starlink network.
2022: Starlink business unit had a single cash-flow-positive quarter
During 2022, the Starlink business unit had a single cash-flow-positive quarter.
2022: SpaceX announced the Starlink Business service tier
In 2022, SpaceX announced the Starlink Business service tier, which includes a larger high-performance antenna with listed speeds of between 150 and 500 Mbit/s for $2500 (antenna) and a $500 monthly service fee.
2022: Starlink revenues reported at $1.4 billion
In 2022, Starlink's revenues were reportedly $1.4 billion accompanied by a net loss.
February 2023: First batch of Generation 2 spacecraft was launched
In February 2023, SpaceX launched the initial batch of Generation 2 Starlink spacecraft, referred to as "Mini" due to their smaller size compared to the full-sized Gen 2 satellites planned for later deployment. These satellites incorporate brightness mitigation techniques, including a mirror-like surface and solar panel orientation, to reduce ground visibility.
February 2023: Introduction of W Band Frequencies with v2 Mini Launch
Until February 2023, Starlink used the Ka-band to connect with ground stations. With the launch of v2 Mini, frequencies were added in the 71–86 GHz W band (or E band waveguide) range.
March 2023: Application to Add V-band Payload to Gen2 Satellites
In March 2023, SpaceX submitted an application to add V-band payload to the second generation satellites rather than fly phase 2 V-band satellites as originally planned and authorized. The request is subject to FCC approval.
March 2023: Manufacturing six Starlink "v2 mini" satellites per day
In March 2023, the company reported that they were manufacturing six Starlink "v2 mini" satellites per day as well as thousands of users terminals.
April 2023: Rogers Communications and One NZ partner with SpaceX for satellite-to-phone services
In April 2023, Rogers Communications signed an agreement with SpaceX for using Starlink for satellite-to-phone services in Canada. Also in April 2023, One NZ announced that they would be partnering with SpaceX's Starlink to provide 100% mobile network coverage over New Zealand.
April 2023: First batch of missile tracking satellites launched
In April 2023, the first batch of satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles launched, forming part of the Tracking Layer Tranche 0 of the U.S. Space Force's National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA).
May 2023: SpaceX Introduces Direct-to-Cell Form Factors
In May 2023, SpaceX introduced two more Starlink form factors with direct-to-cellular (DtC) capability.
June 2023: Minis are fainter than Gen 1 spacecraft despite being four times as large
In June 2023, an observational study was published stating that the Starlink Minis, are fainter than Gen 1 spacecraft despite being four times as large. They are 44% as bright as VisorSats, 24% compared to V1.5 and 19% compared to the original design which had no brightness mitigation. Minis appear 12 times brighter before they reach the target orbit.
July 2023: Optus partners with Starlink for satellite-to-phone services
In July 2023, Optus in Australia announced a partnership with SpaceX's Starlink for satellite-to-phone services.
September 1, 2023: Starshield contract awarded to SpaceX by US Space Force
On September 1, 2023, the one-year Starshield contract was awarded to SpaceX by the U.S. Space Force. The contract is expected to support 54 mission partners across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
September 2023: SES announced satellite internet service for cruise lines using Starlink and SES satellites
In September 2023, satellite operator SES announced a satellite internet service for cruise lines using both Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and SES' own O3b mPOWER satellite constellation in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).
September 2023: Starshield program received its first contract from U.S. Space Force
In September 2023, the Starshield program received its first contract from the U.S. Space Force to provide customized satellite communications for the military.
September 2023: United Against Nuclear Iran donates Starlink subscriptions and terminals to Iranians
In September 2023, the US-based United Against Nuclear Iran started donating Starlink subscriptions and terminals to Iranians to allow them to circumvent Iran's internet blackout.
October 2023: Starlink officially goes live in Zambia
In October 2023, Starlink officially went live in Zambia, after the Zambian Government granted a license to offer internet services in June 2023 and after the completion of trial projects throughout the country.
October 2023: Users demand Starlink for Gaza after war starts
In October 2023, following the start of the Gaza war, users on X (formerly Twitter) used the hashtag #starlinkforgaza requesting Elon Musk to activate Starlink in Gaza after internet service was lost. Musk responded that Starlink connectivity would be provided for aid groups in Gaza.
October 2023: Starlink satellites were "leaking radio signals"
In October 2023, research published in "Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters" reported that Starlink satellites were "leaking radio signals". The study found that, at the future site of the Square Kilometer Array, radio emissions from Starlink satellites were brighter than any natural source in the sky. The paper concluded that these emissions will be "detrimental to key SKA science goals without future mitigation".
October 2023: ITU rules in favor of Iran regarding unauthorized Starlink operation
In October 2023, the ITU ruled in favor of Iran, dismissing a SpaceX assertion that it should not be expected to verify the location of every terminal connecting to its satellites. This was in regards to the Iranian government filing a complaint with the ITU against SpaceX for unauthorized Starlink operation in Iran.
November 2023: Starlink Receives Licenses to Operate in Fiji
In November 2023, Starlink received the licenses to operate in Fiji, paving the way for the launch of its services in the region.
December 2023: FCC formally denied SpaceX's appeal for $885.5 million aid
In December 2023, the FCC formally denied SpaceX's appeal since "Starlink had not shown that it was reasonably capable of fulfilling RDOF's requirements to deploy a network of the scope, scale, and size" required to win the subsidy.
2023: Starlink reports small profit
In 2023, Starlink began reporting a small profit.
2023: Starlink introduces a monthly 1 TB data cap
In 2023, Starlink introduced a monthly 1 TB data cap for all non-business users to improve service quality in densely populated areas.
2023: Starlink terminal production delayed by global chip shortage
In 2023, Starlink terminal production being delayed by the 2020–2023 global chip shortage led to only 5,000 subscribers for the last two months of 2021 but this was soon resolved.
2023: Equivalent value of $10 billion in 2018
In 2023, The $10 billion expected total cost to approach of development and buildout of the constellation in 2018 is equivalent to $11,950,000,000.
2023: Starlink was at annual loss
In 2023, revenues from Starlink were reportedly $1.4 billion accompanied by a net loss, with a small profit being reported by Musk starting.
January 2, 2024: Launch of the first six cell phone capable satellites
On January 2, 2024, the first six cell phone capable Starlink satellites were launched.
January 8, 2024: SpaceX successfully tested text messaging
On January 8, 2024, SpaceX confirmed that they had successfully tested text messaging using the new Direct-to-Cell capability on T-Mobile's network.
February 2024: Virgin Voyages will be the first cruise line to deploy the SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink service
In February 2024, SES announced that Virgin Voyages will be the first cruise line to deploy the SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink service.
April 2024: Starlink reportedly receives "in-principle government approval" in India
In April 2024, it was reported in some Indian news outlets that Starlink had received its "in-principle government approval" in India, with the approval pending further review.
April 2024: Starlink to begin trial service in Indonesia
In April 2024, it was reported that Starlink would begin trial service in Indonesia in May. This occurred before receiving its license to operate in Indonesia in early May.
May 2024: Starlink launches in Fiji
In May 2024, Starlink service launched in Fiji after receiving its licenses to operate in November 2023.
May 2024: Starlink available for pre-order in Sri Lanka
In May 2024, Starlink service was available for pre-order in Sri Lanka, pending regulatory approval. The license to operate was obtained in August of the same year.
May 2024: Starlink revenue prediction raised to $7.7 billion
In May 2024, the expected revenue for Starlink in 2024 was predicted to reach $6.6 billion but later in that year the prediction was raised to $7.7 billion.
June 2024: Starlink Mini Announced
In June 2024, a portable user terminal dubbed "Starlink Mini" was announced to be imminently available. The Mini supports 100 Mbit/s of download speed and will fit in a backpack. Initial rollout was in Latin America at a $200 price point.
July 2024: SpaceX tests Starlink with Romanian authorities to improve speed and coverage
Starting in July 2024, SpaceX began conducting tests on Starlink in cooperation with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and National Authority for Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM) to demonstrate that the Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limit can be safely increased to improve the speed and coverage area of Starlink.
August 2024: Starlink receives licenses to operate in Yemen
In August 2024, Starlink received the licenses to operate in Yemen. Implementation of the services will soon be implemented through the corporation's sales points distributed across most governorates.
September 2024: Starlink reaches 4 million subscribers
In September 2024, Starlink announced that they reached 4 million subscribers.
September 2024: United Airlines to install Starlink services on entire fleet
In September 2024, United Airlines announced it would install Starlink services on the airline's entire fleet, including mainland and regional aircraft, as part of a plan to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi to all passengers.
October 2024: Musk's contact with Putin and discussions about Starlink in Taiwan
In October 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk had regular contact with Vladimir Putin since late 2022, discussing business, geopolitics, and Putin's request to avoid activating Starlink in Taiwan.
November 2024: Morocco Set to Give Regulatory Approval to Starlink by 2025
As of November 2024, Morocco is set to give regulatory approval to Starlink by 2025, potentially expanding Starlink's reach in Africa.
2024: Tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk escalated
In 2024 tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk's business ventures escalated as the country's telecom regulator Anatel threatened to sanction Starlink after Brazil's top court upheld a ban on X.
2024: T-Mobile US and SpaceX partnering to add satellite cellular service capability to Starlink satellites
In 2024, T-Mobile US and SpaceX are partnering to add satellite cellular service capability to Starlink satellites to provide dead-zone cell phone coverage across the US using the existing midband PCS spectrum owned by T-Mobile.
2024: SMS text service is expected to begin in 2024 in Canada and New Zealand
SMS text service is expected to begin in 2024 in Canada and New Zealand through Starlink's satellite-to-phone services.
January 2025: Planned Deployment System Test and Loss of Contact with S33
In January 2025, SpaceX planned to test the deployment system for a new version of their Starlink satellites. On 16 January 2025, S33 was also expected to deploy ten Starlink "simulators," which were also expected to reenter over the Indian Ocean. Contact with S33 was lost shortly before its engines were scheduled to shut down.
February 2025: Starlink reports over 5 million customers worldwide
As of February 2025, Starlink reported having more than 5 million customers worldwide.
February 2025: U.S. negotiators pressured Ukraine to grant access to its critical minerals
In February 2025, U.S. negotiators Scott Bessent and Keith Kellogg pressured Ukraine to grant access to its critical minerals by warning of a potential Starlink shutdown.
February 28, 2025: Meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House
Three days after the February 28, 2025, meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House the U.S. suspended all military aid and a day later also intelligence to Ukraine.
March 2025: Musk Claims Starlink Unavailable in South Africa Due to Race
In March 2025, Elon Musk claimed that Starlink was unavailable in South Africa because he was not black. The South African government argued against this.
March 2025: Criticism of Starlink emphasis and conflict of interest concerns
In March 2025, the director of the United States Department of Commerce's rural broadband program resigned, criticizing undue emphasis on Starlink. Also, conflict of interest concerns were raised after a Starlink user terminal was installed at the White House complex.
March 2025: Indian Telecom Companies Partner with Starlink to Bring Satellite Internet to India
On 11 and 12 March 2025, Indian telecom companies Airtel and Jio have partnered with Starlink to bring satellite internet to India, aiming to improve connectivity in remote areas. However, the service's rollout is dependent on securing necessary government approvals.
April 2025: Starlink Given License to Operate in Somalia and Lesotho
In April 2025, Starlink was given a license to operate in Somalia and Lesotho, potentially expanding its presence in Africa.
2025: Starlink Revenue expected to reach $11.8 billion
In 2025, Starlink revenue is expected to reach $11.8 billion.
2025: SpaceX expected annual revenue from Starlink to exceed $30 billion
In January 2017, SpaceX expected annual revenue from Starlink to exceed $30 billion by 2025.
2025: Voice and data functionality is expected to begin in 2025 in Canada and New Zealand
Voice and data functionality is expected to begin in 2025 in Canada and New Zealand through Starlink's satellite-to-phone services.
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