SpaceX Starlink users from around the globe have been sharing via social media how impressed they are with the broadband satellite network’s internet download speeds. Most users have been experiencing download speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 200Mbps (Megabits per second) as the company advertises on its website, but a couple months ago users started to report much higher download speeds over 300Mbps.
This week, a Starlink user from the province of Newfoundland in Canada shared that the network reached a new internet download speed record – it surpassed 400Mbps! They conducted an online speed test using speedtest.net tool which measures internet speed and latency in real-time. “VERY IMPRESSED WITH STARLINK SO FAR!” the Starlink user shared via Reddit (AtlanticQuest), alongside the speed test screenshot. The network is providing download speeds of 414Mbps, upload of 27.4, with latency of 63 ms (milliseconds). The company said upload speeds and latency will improve as it launches more satellites to outer space. The Starlink broadband constellation is currently comprised of around 1,840 satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit. ‘Just downloaded a 42GB game on steam…took 25 min…would have been 20-24 hours with my old’ internet provider, they said. The network's speed varies “between 150-200 Mbps or better, and before I could hardly stream at 720p and now I can stream multiple 4k no problem,” they stated.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the company aims to provide high-speed internet service of 300Mbps with low-latency of 20ms by next year. Long-term, SpaceX told the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that it will work to develop a robust high-speed internet network capable of beaming an ambitious 1 to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps)! For perspective, 1Gbps is equal to 1,000Mbps. The company currently provides Starlink beta service to approximately 140,000 users across 20 countries and is working to fulfill its pre-orders. Over half-a-million customers paid a $99 USD deposit to secure a spot in line for when service coverage becomes available in their region. The company is fulfilling orders on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’ to a limited amount of customers per coverage area. The company has been facing delays with fulfilling preorders due to the coronavirus pandemic which has affected many industries globally, “Silicon shortages have delayed production which has impacted our ability to fulfill orders,” SpaceX said earlier this month. In mid-November, the company released a rectangular antenna design that will help them increase production rate in a cost-effective manner. For more information visit Starlink.com.
Featured Image Source: SpaceX/Reddit
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
