SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service is expected to reach a major milestone this week, surpassing 4 million customers, according to company President Gwynne Shotwell. She shared the news during her testimony before Texas House Appropriations Committee.
The milestone, later confirmed by SpaceX, highlights the rapid growth of the service, which gained 1 million new subscribers since the end of May alone.
Starlink’s expansion has been remarkable. Launched in beta in October 2020, the service reached 1 million subscribers by December 2022, doubled to 2 million by September 2023, and hit 3 million in May 2024. With nearly 6,000 satellites now in orbit, Starlink provides internet service in almost 100 countries, catering to both individual users and enterprise customers, including airlines and cruise lines.
The service is on track to generate $6.6 billion in revenue this year, a significant jump from the $1.4 billion reported just two years ago, according to Quilty Space, an industry research firm.
Starlink plays a central role in SpaceX’s broader ambitions, including the commercialization of space and future space exploration. CEO Elon Musk has long said that revenue from the satellite internet service would help fund the development of Starship, SpaceX’s reusable rocket. Starship, once operational, will enable the company to launch more Starlink satellites at an even faster pace.
Since its launch, Starlink has dominated the satellite internet market, steadily gaining market share from legacy providers like Viasat and SES, which operate satellites in higher geostationary orbits.
While competitors, such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, are in development, they have yet to launch commercial services, solidifying Starlink’s lead in the market.
