Key Takeaways
1. The upcoming Starship 3 rocket from SpaceX will launch the next generation of Starlink V3 satellites, capable of delivering ten times the bandwidth of the current V2 satellites.
2. Starlink V3 satellites will provide gigabit Internet speeds, with uplink speeds potentially reaching 160 Gbps, expected to be available by 2026.
3. The inaugural flight of Starship 3 is planned for later this year, with each rocket carrying 100 Starlink V3 satellites, significantly increasing downlink capacity.
4. Only the expensive $2,000 Performance Kit dish will support gigabit speeds; cheaper kits like the Starlink Mini and Standard Kit will not be able to utilize these speeds.
5. Starlink plans to implement service upgrades for gigabit speeds in 2026, likely at a premium cost, but no hardware changes will be needed for new Performance Kit users.
During a recent talk titled “Making Life Interplanetary,” Elon Musk shared that the upcoming Starship 3 rocket from SpaceX will be capable of launching the next generation of Starlink V3 satellites.
Satellite Capabilities
The V3 satellites, which are as large as a Boeing 737 when their solar panels are opened, will deliver ten times the bandwidth compared to the existing V2 satellites, reaching speeds of up to 1 Tbps. This advancement means that Starlink is set to provide gigabit satellite Internet speeds once the new V3 satellite network begins to take shape next year.
After a detailed post about the specifications of the existing Starlink kits, Elon Musk confirmed that Starlink plans to offer gigabit Internet speeds by 2026. He also implied that the uplink speeds for Starlink will see significant enhancements, as the V3 satellites can achieve 24 times the current upload speeds, potentially reaching 160 Gbps.
Launch Plans
The inaugural flight of the Starship 3 rocket is anticipated to occur later this year, with each rocket designed to transport 100 Starlink V3 satellites into space. This will result in a sudden increase of 100 Tbps in downlink capacity, allowing the gigabit-speed satellite network to develop rapidly.
Sadly, budget-friendly kits like the Starlink Mini dish, which is priced at $349 on Amazon, or the Standard Kit, won’t be able to take advantage of the forthcoming gigabit satellite Internet speeds. For those looking for better options, Starlink has launched the Performance Kit, featuring a robust dish that promises a ten-year lifespan and resistance to vibrations from rocket landings. The costly $2,000 Performance dish is currently the only model that Starlink claims can support gigabit download speeds.
Future Improvements
“Starlink is working on network improvements that will enable gigabit speeds starting in the most isolated areas of the planet with the Performance Kit,” according to SpaceX. They also suggest “service plan upgrades” for 2026, which likely means that these gigabit satellite Internet speeds will come at a premium, even for commercial customers targeted by the Starlink Performance Kit.
At the moment, the priciest option within Starlink’s business offerings is the 2 TB Global Priority plan, which costs $2,150 a month and provides coverage wherever Starlink is available. While this high price point includes download speeds of up to 400 Mbps, it remains uncertain whether the new gigabit Internet plans will be even more costly.
Fortunately, Starlink assures that “no hardware changes will be necessary” for new Performance Kit users when gigabit speeds become available in 2026.
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