SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service is set to achieve a significant milestone this week, surpassing 4 million subscribers.
President of SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell, announced this achievement during a testimony before the Texas House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The milestone was officially confirmed by SpaceX on Thursday.
This new benchmark reflects remarkable growth for Starlink, which has gained 1 million customers since May, bringing its total from 3 million to 4 million in just a few months. Starlink began beta service in October 2020, reaching its first million subscribers in December 2022, 2 million by September 2023, and 3 million in May 2024. The satellite constellation now consists of nearly 6,000 satellites, providing coverage in nearly 100 countries to both individual users and large enterprises, including major airlines and cruise lines.
Financially, Starlink is projected to generate $6.6 billion in revenue this year, a substantial increase from about $1.4 billion two years ago, according to industry analysts at Quilty Space.
Starlink plays a crucial role in SpaceX’s broader mission to commercialize and explore space. CEO Elon Musk has long stated that revenue from Starlink will fund further development of the reusable Starship rocket, which is expected to facilitate the launch of even more satellites.
As the leading provider of satellite internet, Starlink has significantly expanded its market share at the expense of traditional competitors like Viasat and SES, which operate in higher geostationary orbits. While Amazon’s Project Kuiper and other satellite constellations are in development, they have yet to begin commercial operations.
