Starlink is preparing a big leap

SpaceX is preparing to launch a new phase of its Starlink network. The first V3 satellites are expected to be launched into orbit aboard a Starship rocket, each designed to deliver about 1 Tb/s of total data transfer capacity to users. SpaceX estimates that a single Starship rocket will be able to carry up to 60 such satellites into orbit, which would mean about twenty times more added network capacity per launch than a Falcon 9 rocket.

Starlink currently has more than 11,000 satellites in orbit, giving SpaceX a huge advantage over its competitors. The next generation isn't just about faster speeds. The higher capacity of a single satellite means SpaceX can provide more bandwidth in areas with a lot of users without having to launch a proportionally larger number of satellites into orbit.

Amazon, meanwhile, is making much slower progress with its Leo network. It currently has about 396 satellites, while the final initial constellation is expected to have more than 3,000. The program has been hampered this year by problems and delays with various rockets, including Vulcan, New Glenn and Ariane 64. Amazon has obtained an extension from the US regulator FCC, but it still has a long way to go before the service is widely available.

The difference between the two companies is no longer just the number of satellites. SpaceX has its own rockets, its own satellites, and an already operational global network. If Starship is able to launch new V3 satellites regularly, SpaceX will be able to increase capacity much faster, while Amazon will first have to catch up with its existing infrastructure.