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 approximately 150 countries and territories, with aims to offer global mobile broadband. The project has significantly contributed to SpaceX's overall growth and is an important part of their business plan.
2012: Inspiration for Starlink Name
In 2012, the name 'Starlink' was inspired by the novel 'The Fault in Our Stars'.
January 2015: Starlink Publicly Announced
In January 2015, Starlink was publicly announced with the opening of the SpaceX satellite development facility in Redmond, Washington. Musk stated that Starlink would target bandwidth to carry up to 50% of all backhaul communications traffic, and up to 10% of local Internet traffic, in high-density cities and that the positive cash flow from selling satellite internet services would be necessary to fund their Mars plans.
January 2015: Initial Plans for 4,000 Cross-Linked Satellites
In January 2015, initial plans forecasted the Starlink constellation to consist of approximately 4,000 cross-linked satellites, more than twice the number of operational satellites in orbit at that time.
February 2015: SpaceX Asks FCC to Consider Innovative Uses of Ka-Band Spectrum
In February 2015, SpaceX requested the FCC to consider future innovative uses of the Ka-band spectrum, expressing concerns about potential barriers from 5G communications regulations.
February 2015: Analysts Question Satellite Operators
In February 2015, financial analysts questioned established geosynchronous orbit communications satellite fleet operators about how they intended to respond to the competitive threat of SpaceX and OneWeb LEO communication satellites.
June 2015: Announcement of First Two Demonstration Satellites
At the time of the June 2015 announcement, SpaceX had stated plans to launch the first two demonstration satellites in 2016, but the target date was subsequently moved out to 2018.
October 2015: SpaceX Business Case Still in Early Phase
In October 2015, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell indicated that the business case for the long-term rollout of an operational satellite network was still in an early phase, while development continued.
2015: Samsung and Telesat Constellation Proposals
In 2015, Samsung proposed a 4,600-satellite constellation. Also in 2015, Telesat announced a smaller 117 satellite constellation with plans to deliver initial service in 2021.
July 2016: SpaceX Acquires Irvine, California Office Space
In July 2016, SpaceX acquired an additional 740 m² (8,000 sq ft) creative space in Irvine, California (Orange County) for signal processing, RFIC, and ASIC development for the satellite program.
October 2016: Focus on Low-Cost User Equipment Design
In October 2016, the satellite division was focusing on the business challenge of achieving a sufficiently low-cost design for the user equipment.
November 2016: SpaceX Applies to FCC for License
In November 2016, SpaceX applied to the FCC for a license to operate a "non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite system in the fixed-satellite service using the Ku- and Ka- frequency bands".
2016: SpaceX Confirms Connection and Applies to FCC
In 2016, SpaceX confirmed the connection to the ITU application and applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to license Starlink.
January 2017: SpaceX Projects Starlink Revenue
In January 2017, SpaceX expected annual revenue from Starlink to reach $12 billion by 2022 and exceed $30 billion by 2025.
January 2017: SpaceX Expands Redmond Facilities
In January 2017, SpaceX had taken on a second 2,800 m² (30,000 sq ft) facility in Redmond, Washington, in addition to their initial leased space.
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 over 7,500 "V-band satellites in non-geosynchronous orbits to provide communications services".
September 2017: FCC Grants License to SpaceX
In September 2017, the FCC granted SpaceX a license that required half of the constellation to be in orbit within six years and the full system operating within nine years from the date of the license.
October 2017: Market Players Cancel Investments
By October 2017, the expectation for large increases in satellite network capacity from emerging lower-altitude broadband constellations caused market players to cancel some planned investments in new geosynchronous orbit broadband communications satellites.
2017: SpaceX Files 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 for the Starlink project.
March 2018: FCC Approves Initial Starlink Satellites
In March 2018, the FCC granted SpaceX approval for the initial 4,425 Starlink satellites, with conditions including obtaining a separate approval from the ITU and achieving a higher level of de-orbiting reliability.
May 2018: SpaceX Estimates Starlink Constellation Cost
In May 2018, SpaceX estimated the cost of designing, building, and deploying the Starlink constellation would be at least US$10 billion.
August 2018: SpaceX Consolidates Seattle-Area Operations
In August 2018, SpaceX consolidated all their Seattle-area operations with a move to a larger three-building facility at Redmond Ridge Corporate Center to support satellite manufacturing in addition to R&D.
November 2018: Amazon Announces AWS ground station unit
In November 2018, Amazon announced a large network of twelve satellite ground station facilities (the "AWS ground station unit").
November 2018: SpaceX Plans Initial Shell of 1600 Satellites at 550 km Altitude
In November 2018, SpaceX announced plans to operate an initial shell of approximately 1600 satellites in the constellation at around 550 km orbital altitude, similar to the orbits of Tintin A and B.
November 2018: FCC Approves 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.
February 2019: SpaceX Subsidiary Requests License for Earth Stations
In February 2019, SpaceX Services Incorporated, a sister company of SpaceX, requested a license from the FCC to operate up to a million fixed satellite Earth stations for the Starlink system.
April 2019: Amazon Announces Project Kuiper
In April 2019, Amazon announced "Project Kuiper", a plan to launch 3,236 satellites over the next decade for broadband internet service. This satellite constellation would work with Amazon's existing network of twelve satellite ground station facilities.
April 2019: FCC Approves Satellite Placement
In April 2019, the FCC approved SpaceX's request to place nearly 12,000 satellites in three orbital shells.
May 2019: Launch of 60 Starlink v0.9 Satellites
In May 2019, 60 Starlink v0.9 satellites were launched.
May 2019: First 60 Starlink Satellites Launched
In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first 60 Starlink satellites into a 550 km orbit, with plans for up to six launches in 2019.
May 2019: First Batch of Operational Satellites Launched
In May 2019, the first batch of 60 operational Starlink satellites were launched.
May 2019: First Significant Deployment of 60 Satellites
In May 2019, the first significant deployment of 60 Starlink satellites occurred, with each satellite weighing 227 kg.
June 2019: SpaceX Applies for Ground Terminal License
In June 2019, SpaceX applied to the FCC for a license to test up to 270 ground terminals across the United States.
October 15, 2019: FCC Files for Additional Satellites
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, Elon Musk also publicly tested the Starlink network.
November 2019: Initial Launch of Starlink v1.0 Satellites
In November 2019, the Starlink v1.0 satellites were initially launched.
November 20, 2019: Signal Loss Recorded at CTIO
On November 20, 2019, the Blanco telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) recorded signal loss correlated to a Starlink satellite train transit.
2019: Transition to Manufacturing
By late 2019, SpaceX was transitioning their satellite efforts from research and development to manufacturing, with the planned first launch of a large group of satellites to orbit.
2019: SpaceX Begins Launching Starlink Satellites
In 2019, SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites.
2019: US Air Force Tests Starlink Data Link with Aircraft
In 2019, the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) tests demonstrated a 610 Mbit/s data link through Starlink to a Beechcraft C-12 Huron aircraft in flight. Additionally, the United States Air Force successfully tested a connection with Starlink on an AC-130 Gunship in late 2019.
March 2020: SpaceX Reported Satellite Production
In March 2020, SpaceX reported that they were producing six Starlink satellites per day.
April 2020: SpaceX Requests to Lower Satellite Orbits
In April 2020, SpaceX requested to lower all other higher satellite orbits to about 550 km and modified the architecture of the Starlink network by submitting an application to the FCC proposing to operate more satellites in lower orbits in the first phase than the FCC previously authorized.
April 17, 2020: SpaceX to Test Light Pollution Mitigation
On April 17, 2020, SpaceX wrote in an FCC filing that it would test new methods of mitigating light pollution and provide access to satellite tracking data for astronomers.
April 27, 2020: Musk Announces New Sunshade Design
On April 27, 2020, Elon Musk announced that the company would introduce a new sunshade designed to reduce the brightness of Starlink satellites.
June 2020: Photographs of Customer Antennas Appear Online
In June 2020, photographs of Starlink customer antennas surfaced online, confirming CEO Musk's description of the terminals resembling a "UFO on a stick."
July 2020: Approvals for Five Ground Stations in the United States
As of July 2020, SpaceX received approvals for five ground stations in the United States.
July 2020: Limited Beta Internet Service Opened
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 install Starlink terminals on 10 of its ships, signaling its intention to enter the maritime market.
October 2020: Starlink Launches "Better Than Nothing Beta" Service in the U.S.
In October 2020, Starlink launched a paid-for beta service in the U.S. called "Better Than Nothing Beta", charging $499 for a user terminal.
October 2020: Wider Public Beta Launched
In October 2020, Starlink launched a wider public beta, charging beta testers the full monthly cost.
October 2020: SDA Awards SpaceX Contract for Missile Detection 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: Samsung Constellation Update
By 2020, no more public information had been released about the Samsung constellation proposal from 2015.
2020: SpaceX Hires Retired General 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: Air Force Uses Starlink in Advanced Battlefield Management System Exercise
In 2020, the Air Force utilized Starlink in support of its Advanced Battlefield management system during a live-fire exercise. They demonstrated Starlink connected to a "variety of air and terrestrial assets" including the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
2020: Successful Testing of Inter-Satellite Laser Links
In late 2020, Starlink successfully tested its inter-satellite laser links.
2020: Starlink Terminal Production Delays
Starlink terminal production was delayed by the 2020-2023 global chip shortage leading to only 5,000 subscribers for the last two months of 2021, before the issue was resolved.
January 2021: Paid Beta Service Extended to the United Kingdom
From January 2021, the Starlink paid-for beta service was extended to other continents, starting with the United Kingdom.
January 24, 2021: Initial Launch of Starlink v1.5 Satellites
On January 24, 2021, Starlink v1.5 satellites were initially launched.
February 2021: NRECA Challenges Starlink FCC Subsidies
In February 2021, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) urged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to vet the subsidy applications of SpaceX and other broadband providers. They criticized the funding allocation to Starlink, citing concerns about non-rural service locations and the unproven technology.
March 2021: FCC Application for Mobile Terminals
In March 2021, SpaceX submitted an application to the FCC for mobile variations of their Starlink terminal designed for vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.
April 2021: FCC Approves E-band Application
In April 2021, the FCC approved SpaceX's application for the use of the E-band in their constellation.
May 2021: Study on Interference from Satellites
According to a May 2021 study, a large number of fast-moving transmitting stations (i.e. satellites) will cause further interference, inevitably increasing data loss and time needed for each study.
May 2021: Mobile Starlink Transceivers Tested
In May 2021, SpaceX tested high-altitude low-velocity mobile use of Starlink transceivers on a rocket prototype after applying to the FCC to use them on launch vehicles flying to Earth orbit in June.
November 2021: Destruction of Kosmos 1408
The destruction of the Russian satellite Kosmos 1408 in November 2021 by an anti-satellite weapon test impacted Starlink operations.
December 1, 2021: Starlink Collision Avoidance Maneuvers Increase
According to SpaceX reports, over 1,700 out of 6,873 collision avoidance maneuvers performed by Starlink satellites between December 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022, were to avoid Kosmos 1408 debris.
2021: Chinese Complaint to the United Nations
In 2021, Chinese authorities lodged a complaint with the United Nations regarding evasive maneuvers by their space station to avoid Starlink satellites.
2021: Pre-Orders Opened to the Public
In early 2021, pre-orders for Starlink service were first opened to the public in the United States and Canada.
2021: Starlink Terminal Production Delays
Starlink terminal production was delayed by the 2020-2023 global chip shortage leading to only 5,000 subscribers for the last two months of 2021, before the issue was resolved.
2021: Telesat Initial Service Planned
Telesat announced a smaller 117 satellite constellation in 2015 with plans to deliver initial service in 2021.
January 2022: SpaceX Deploys 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: Starlink Group 4-7 Launched
On February 3, 2022, 49 satellites were launched as Starlink Group 4–7.
February 8, 2022: NTIA Warns About Potential Impact
On February 8, 2022, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) submitted a letter to the FCC warning about the potential impact of Starlink on low Earth orbit, collision risk, and science missions.
February 2022: IAU Establishes Center to Deal with Satellite Effects
In February 2022, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a center to help astronomers deal with the adverse effects of satellite constellations such as Starlink.
May 2022: Increased Collision-Avoidance Maneuvers
As of May 2022, the frequency of Starlink satellite collision-avoidance maneuvers has increased substantially, with over 1,700 out of 6,873 maneuvers being performed to avoid Kosmos 1408 debris alone.
May 2022: Chinese Researchers Describe Strategy for Destroying Starlink Constellation
In May 2022, Chinese military researchers published an article detailing a strategy for destroying the Starlink constellation if they threaten national security, highlighting concerns with reported Starlink military capabilities. Russian officials also warned and criticized Starlink, raising concerns about it becoming a legitimate military target.
May 2022: Starlink Gen2 Satellites Need Starship Launch
As of May 2022, SpaceX indicated publicly that the second-generation (Gen2) constellation satellites would need to be launched on Starship due to their size.
June 2022: IAU Releases Satellite Tracking Website
In June 2022, the IAU released a website for astronomers to track satellites to avoid and time them for minimal impact on current work.
July 2022: Starlink Maritime Service Introduced
In July 2022, Starlink Maritime became available, offering internet access on the open ocean with speeds up to 350 Mbit/s. This service requires a maritime-grade user terminal costing $10,000 and a monthly service fee of $5,000.
August 2022: Starlink Reduces Monthly Service Costs in Select Countries
In August 2022, SpaceX lowered monthly service costs for Starlink users in select countries, with users in Brazil and Chile experiencing fee reductions of around 50%.
August 2022: Security Specialist Presents Starlink Terminal Technical Details
In August 2022, security specialist Lennert Wouters presented technical architecture details of Starlink terminals, identifying key components such as the STMicroelectronics Catson SoC chip, Shiraz digital beam former, and Pulsarad front-end module.
August 2022: FCC Revokes Federal Subsidies
In August 2022, the FCC revoked the $885.5 million federal subsidies awarded to SpaceX for rural broadband customers, stating that Starlink "failed to demonstrate" its ability to deliver the promised service.
September 2022: Initial Launch Schedule of Missile Tracking Satellites
In September 2022, the first batch of satellites were originally scheduled to launch as 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, but the launch was delayed.
December 1, 2022: FCC Approves SpaceX's 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 Announces Starshield Service for Government and Military
In December 2022, SpaceX announced Starshield, a separate Starlink service designed for government entities and military agencies, enabling the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to own or lease Starshield satellites for partners and allies. It features encryption and anti-jam capabilities.
December 2022: Starlink Reaches 1 Million Subscribers
In December 2022, SpaceX announced that Starlink had reached over 1 million subscribers.
2022: Starlink Speeds Degraded in First Half of 2022
According to internet analysis company Ookla, Starlink speeds degraded during the first half of 2022 as more customers subscribed to the service. SpaceX stated that Starlink speeds will improve as more satellites are deployed.
2022: Withdrawal of V-Band Plans
By 2022, SpaceX had withdrawn its V-band satellite plans.
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 Service Tier Announced
In 2022, SpaceX announced the Starlink Business service tier, a higher-performance version of the service with a larger antenna and listed speeds of between 150 and 500 Mbit/s for $2500 (antenna) and a $500 monthly fee. The FCC also approved licensing of Starlink to boats, aircraft, and moving vehicles.
2022: Starlink Revenue and Net Loss
In 2022, Starlink's revenue was reportedly $1.4 billion accompanied by a net loss.
2022: Musk's Communications with Russian Officials
In October 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high ranking Russian government officials since late 2022.
2022: Starlink Business Unit Cash Flow
The Starlink business unit had a single cash-flow-positive quarter during 2022.
February 2023: First Batch of Generation 2 Spacecraft Launched
In February 2023, the first batch of Generation 2 spacecraft, known as "Mini" satellites, was launched.
February 2023: W Band Frequencies Added with v2 Mini Launch
Until February 2023, Starlink used the Ka-band to connect with ground stations, but with the launch of v2 Mini, frequencies were added in the 71–86 GHz W band range.
March 2023: SpaceX Applies to Add V-band Payload
In March 2023, SpaceX submitted an application to add V-band payload to the second generation satellites.
March 2023: Starlink v2 Mini Satellite Production
In March 2023, the company reported manufacturing six Starlink "v2 mini" satellites per day, as well as thousands of user terminals.
April 2023: Rogers and One NZ Partner with Starlink for Satellite-to-Phone Services
In April 2023, Rogers Communications in Canada and One NZ (formerly Vodafone New Zealand) announced agreements with SpaceX to use Starlink for satellite-to-phone services. One NZ expects to provide 100% mobile network coverage over New Zealand. SMS text service is expected to begin in 2024, with voice and data functionality in 2025.
April 2023: Launch of Missile Tracking Satellites
In April 2023, the first batch of satellites launched, forming 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.
May 2023: Introduction of Form Factors with Direct-to-Cell Capability
In May 2023, SpaceX introduced two more form factors with direct-to-cellular (DtC) capability.
June 2023: Observational Study on Gen 2 Brightness
According to an observational study published in June 2023, the Minis are fainter than Gen 1 spacecraft despite being four times as large.
June 2023: U.S. Department of Defense Signs Contract to Finance Starlink Use in Ukraine
In June 2023, the United States Department of Defense signed a contract with SpaceX to finance Starlink use in Ukraine, following Musk's warnings about the service's costs and estimates of SpaceX's contributions.
July 2023: Optus Partners with Starlink for Satellite-to-Phone Services in Australia
In July 2023, Optus in Australia announced a partnership with SpaceX's Starlink to provide similar satellite-to-phone services.
September 1, 2023: Starshield Program Receives First Contract from U.S. Space Force
On September 1, 2023, the Starshield program received its first contract from the U.S. Space Force to provide customized satellite communications for the military under the Space Force's new "Proliferated Low Earth Orbit" program. The one-year contract is expected to support 54 mission partners across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
September 2023: SES Announces Cruise Line Internet Service Using Starlink
In September 2023, 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). The SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink service claims to combine the best features of LEO and MEO orbits to provide high-speed, secure connectivity at up to 3 Gbit/s per ship.
September 2023: U.S. Space Force Awards Starshield Contract for Military Satellite Communications
In September 2023, the Starshield program received its first contract from the U.S. Space Force to provide customized satellite communications for the military under the Space Force's new "Proliferated Low Earth Orbit" program. The Space Force will allocate up to $900 million worth of contracts over the next 10 years.
October 2023: Demands to Activate Starlink in Gaza
In October 2023, after the Gaza war started, users shared the hashtag #starlinkforgaza demanding Elon Musk to activate Starlink in Gaza after Internet service in the region was lost. Musk stated that Starlink connectivity would be provided for aid groups in Gaza with the approval of the government of Israel.
October 2023: Research Finds Radio Signal Leakage
In October 2023, research published in "Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters" reported that Starlink satellites were "leaking radio signals" which will be "detrimental to key SKA science goals without future mitigation".
December 1, 2023: Starlink Collision-Avoidance Maneuvers Increase
According to SpaceX's semiannual reports filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Starlink satellites performed approximately 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers between December 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.
December 2023: FCC Denies SpaceX's Appeal
In December 2023, the FCC formally denied SpaceX's appeal regarding the revocation of federal subsidies, stating that "Starlink had not shown that it was reasonably capable of fulfilling RDOF's requirements".
2023: Starlink Implements 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. This cap was enforced starting in 2023.
2023: Starlink Terminal Production Delays End
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: Starlink at Annual Loss
With a net profit of $72.7 million 2024 would be the first year of profitability for the service as it posted a $30.7 million loss in 2023.
January 2, 2024: Launch of First Cell Phone Capable Satellites
On January 2, 2024, the first six cell phone capable satellites were launched.
January 8, 2024: SpaceX Successfully Tests Text Messaging Using Direct-to-Cell Capability
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 to Deploy 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, which integrates Starlink and SES's own satellite technology to provide high-speed internet to cruise ships.
May 2024: Revenue Prediction for the Year
In May 2024, Starlink's revenue for the year was expected to reach $6.6 billion, which was later raised to $7.7 billion by December.
June 2024: Announcement of "Starlink Mini" Portable User Terminal
In June 2024, the "Starlink Mini", a portable user terminal supporting 100 Mbit/s download speeds, was announced with initial rollout in Latin America at a $200 price point.
July 2024: SpaceX Tests Starlink with Romanian Authorities
Starting in July 2024, SpaceX cooperated with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and ANCOM to test increasing the Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limit to improve Starlink's speed and coverage without affecting geostationary satellites. The results will be used to potentially change International Telecommunication Union rules set in the 1990s regarding non-geostationary satellite limits.
September 2024: Starlink Reaches 4 Million Subscribers
In September 2024, SpaceX announced that Starlink had reached 4 million subscribers.
October 2024: Report of Musk's Communications with Russian Officials
In October 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high ranking Russian government officials since late 2022.
November 2024: Morocco Set to Approve Starlink
As of November 2024, Morocco is expected to grant regulatory approval to Starlink services by 2025.
November 2024: Musk Assures Support for Ukraine
In a November 2024 call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Musk said he will continue supporting Ukraine through Starlink.
2024: SMS Text Service Expected to Begin in New Zealand
In 2024, SMS text service is expected to begin in New Zealand as part of the partnership between One NZ and SpaceX's Starlink.
2024: Tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk
In 2024, tensions between Brazil and Elon Musk's business ventures escalated after Brazil's top court upheld a ban on X (formerly Twitter).
2024: Cost in 2024 equivalent
In May 2018, SpaceX expected the total cost of development and buildout of the constellation to approach $10 billion (equivalent to $12,270,000,000 in 2024).
2024: First Year of Profitability
With a net profit of $72.7 million 2024 would be the first year of profitability for the service as it posted a $30.7 million loss in 2023.
February 2025: U.S. Negotiators Pressure Ukraine Over Mineral Rights with Starlink Shutdown Warning
In February 2025, U.S. negotiators Scott Bessent and Keith Kellogg pressured Ukraine to grant access to its critical minerals, warning of a potential Starlink shutdown. Donald Trump also pushed Ukraine for U.S. access. While Musk denied the claims, Reuters stood by its report. 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.
February 28, 2025: Meeting Between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House
On February 28, 2025, a meeting took place between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, three days after which the U.S. suspended all military aid and a day later also intelligence to Ukraine.
March 2025: Musk Claims Licensing Issues in South Africa Due to Race
In March 2025, Elon Musk claimed that Starlink's inability to secure a license in South Africa was "simply because I'm not black", referencing equity ownership requirements that prioritize historically disadvantaged groups, a claim disputed by South African government officials.
March 2025: Airtel and Jio Partner with Starlink in India
In March 2025, Indian telecom companies Airtel and Jio partnered with Starlink to introduce satellite internet in India, focusing on improving connectivity in remote areas, pending government approvals.
March 2025: Controversies Arise Over Starlink and Political Influence
In March 2025, the director of the United States Department of Commerce's rural broadband program resigned, criticizing excessive focus on Starlink by the Trump administration. Musk's political involvement sparked protests from UK Starlink customers. A Starlink user terminal at the White House complex raised conflict of interest concerns, though the White House stated in response that it was donated by Starlink and approved by legal counsel and the United States Secret Service. Countries such as India granted regulatory approval to Starlink in hopes of avoiding tariffs.
June 2025: Starlink Operating Unlawfully in South Africa
In June 2025, it was revealed that Starlink had been operating unlawfully in South Africa since 2022, with users utilizing the roaming service. Also in June 2025, Starlink began suspending the service of users with Roam Unlimited and Global Roaming plans.
July 2025: Starlink SMS Texting Goes Public in the U.S. and New Zealand
In July 2025, SMS texting via Starlink became publicly available in the U.S. and New Zealand to T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and One NZ customers. The service is powered by Starlink's Direct to Cell satellites and allows existing 4G LTE mobile devices to connect to Starlink satellites for dead-zone cell phone coverage across the USA. Bandwidth will be limited to 2 to 4 megabits per second total.
August 12, 2025: Kyivstar Conducts Eastern Europe's First Test of Direct-to-Cell Service
On August 12, 2025, Ukrainian cell operator Kyivstar conducted Eastern Europe's first test of the Direct-to-Cell service, with the CEO and digital transformation minister of Ukraine exchanging messages with regular smartphones. Commercial start of this service is planned for 2025.
August 2025: Testing of "Mini Laser" for Connectivity
In August 2025, Starlink tested a "mini laser" to enable connectivity for third-party satellites and space stations within the Starlink constellation.
October 2025: Starlink Deployment System Tests on Starship
As of October 2025, SpaceX has conducted multiple tests of the Starlink deployment system on Starship, carrying up to 10 Starlink "simulators" as payload on each test flight.
December 2025: Starlink Reaches 9 Million Subscribers
In December 2025, SpaceX announced that Starlink had reached 9 million subscribers.
2025: Projected Starlink Revenue
In 2025, Starlink's revenue was expected to reach $11.8 billion.
2025: Voice and Data Functionality Expected in New Zealand
In 2025, voice and data functionality is expected to be added to the satellite-to-phone services in New Zealand, through the partnership between One NZ and SpaceX's Starlink.
January 2026: SpaceX Plans to Lower Satellite Orbits
In January 2026, SpaceX announced plans to lower approximately 4,400 satellites from their current 550 km orbit to 480 km over the course of the year.
February 2026: Starlink Customer Base Exceeds 10 Million Worldwide
As of February 2026, Starlink reported that its customer base had grown to over 10 million users worldwide.
February 2026: Starlink Reaches 10 Million Subscribers
In February 2026, SpaceX announced that Starlink had reached 10 million subscribers.
February 2026: Starlink Receives Licenses to Operate in Vietnam
In February 2026, Starlink was granted licenses by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology to operate fixed and mobile satellite networks in Vietnam, planning to deploy four ground gateway stations and offer satellite Internet access to up to 600,000 user terminals.
March 2026: Starlink Constellation Size
As of March 2026, the Starlink constellation consisted of over 10,020 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), representing 65% of all active satellites.
2026: Iran Disrupts Starlink with Military-Grade Jammers
In early 2026, during a cyber-blockade carried out in response to protests, Iranian authorities utilized military-grade jammers to disrupt the Starlink signal.
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