SpaceX
Blue Origin announces TeraWave – satellite internet rival for Starlink and Amazon Leo
The BBC reports that Jeff Bezos owned Blue Origin plans to create a new communications network called TeraWave, launching more than 5,400 satellites to offer global internet coverage. TeraWave will be focused on data centers, businesses and governments.
In a satellite internet market dominated by Elon Musk’s Starlink, Blue Origin would still have fewer satellites in orbit than Starlink. Yet TeraWave’s network at maximum speed would allow upload and download speeds of up to 6 terabits per second, much faster than rival commercial satellite offerings. The satellites are set to start launching by the end of 2027.
In April, Blue Origin launched an 11-minute space flight with an all-female crew, including Bezos’ now-wife Lauren Sánchez, singer Katie Perry and CBS presenter Gayle King. However, some commentators said it was “tone deaf” for celebrities to be taking part in such a fleeting and expensive trip at a time of economic struggle.
Blue Origin says TeraWave will be focused on data centers, businesses and governments. Blue Origin said its network, at its fastest, would allow upload and download speeds of as much as 6 terabits per second, much faster than rival commercial satellite services currently offer.
TeraWave is Optimized for Enterprise, Data Center, & Government Customers
- Starlink – part of Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX (which is 40% owned by Elon Musk) is by far the #1 satellite internet and phone service provider, primarily to individual customers.
- Blue Origin’s TeraWave satellite network will also compete with Amazon Leo, but they are targeting different market segments despite both being backed by Jeff Bezos. While it currently has around 180 satellites in orbit, having launched dozens more just last week, it plans to have more than 3,000 in orbit. Like Starlink, Amazon is also more focused on the general public than businesses and governments, positioning Leo as a way to offer high-speed internet access globally. It has not said when all of the Leo satellites will be in orbit.
| Feature | Blue Origin TeraWave | Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) |
|---|---|---|
| Target Market | Enterprises, data centers, governments, and other high-capacity users. | Consumers and communities in remote and underserved areas. |
| Service Goal | Provide extremely high-speed, symmetrical, and redundant backbone connectivity. | Deliver general high-speed broadband internet access (consumer speeds). |
| Projected Speeds | Up to 6 terabits per second (Tbps) via optical links in MEO. | Up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for its highest-end user terminal. |
| Constellation Size | Plan for 5,408 satellites (LEO and MEO). | Plan for over 3,200 satellites (LEO only). |
In November, Blue Origin successfully landed a rocket booster on a floating platform for the first time. Only SpaceX had previously accomplished that feat.
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References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0yydwe89jo
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Starlink doubles subscriber base; expands to to 42 new countries, territories & markets
China ITU filing to put ~200K satellites in low earth orbit while FCC authorizes 7.5K additional Starlink LEO satellites
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
Amazon launches first Project Kuiper satellites in direct competition with SpaceX/Starlink
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
Elon Musk: Starlink could become a global mobile carrier; 2 year timeframe for new smartphones
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
China ITU filing to put ~200K satellites in low earth orbit while FCC authorizes 7.5K additional Starlink LEO satellites
- Purpose: The planned systems are intended to provide global broadband connectivity, data relay, and positioning services, directly competing with U.S. efforts like SpaceX’s Starlink network.
- Filing Entities: The primary filings were submitted by the state-backed Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, along with other commercial and state-owned companies like China Mobile and Shanghai Spacecom.
- Status: These filings are an initial step in a long international regulatory process and serve as a claim to limited spectrum and orbital slots. They do not guarantee all satellites will ultimately be built or launched. The actual deployment will be a gradual process over many years.
- Context: The move is part of an escalating “space race” to dominate the LEO environment. Early filings are crucial for securing priority access to orbital resources and avoiding signal interference. The sheer scale of the Chinese proposal would, if realized, dwarf most other planned constellations.
- Regulations: Under ITU rules, operators must deploy a certain percentage of the satellites within seven years of the initial filing to retain their rights.
- Shanghai Yuanxin (Qianfan), currently China’s most advanced LEO satellite operator, has submitted a regulatory request for an additional 1,296 satellites.
- Telecommunications giant China Mobile is planning two separate constellations totaling 2,664 satellites.
- ChinaSat, the established state-owned satellite provider, is focusing on a 24-satellite medium-Earth orbit (MEO) system.
- GalaxySpace, a private satellite manufacturer based in Beijing, has applied for 187 satellites, and China Telecom has applied for 12.
Image Credit: Klaus Ohlenschlaeger/Alamy Stock Photo
“This gives SpaceX what they need for the next couple of years of operation. They’re launching a bit over 3,000 satellites a year, so 7,500 satellites being authorized is potentially enough for SpaceX to do what they want to do until late 2027,” said Tim Farrar, satellite analyst and president at TMF Associates.
SpaceX has plans for a larger D2D satellite constellation that would use the AWS-4 and H-block spectrum it is acquiring from EchoStar. It is awaiting FCC approval for the US$17 billion deal, but the spectrum is not expected to be transferred until the end of November 2027.
The FCC noted that the changes will allow the Starlink system to serve more customers and deliver “gigabit speed service.” Along with permission for another tranche of satellites, the FCC has set new parameters for frequency use and lower orbit altitudes. The modified authorizations will also apply to new satellites to be launched.
Starlink’s LEO satellite network competitors are Amazon Leo, OneWeb and AST Space Mobile.
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References:
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
Huge significance of EchoStar’s AWS-4 spectrum sale to SpaceX
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
SpaceX has majority of all satellites in orbit; Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
Amazon launches first Project Kuiper satellites in direct competition with SpaceX/Starlink
Vodafone and Amazon’s Project Kuiper to extend 4G/5G in Africa and Europe
Starlink doubles subscriber base; expands to to 42 new countries, territories & markets
Starlink, the satellite internet service by SpaceX, has nearly doubled its internet subscriber base in 2025 to over 9 million global customers. This rapid expansion from approximately 4.6 million subscribers at the end of 2024 has been driven by new service launches in 42 countries and territories, new subscription options, and the company’s focus on bridging the digital divide in remote and underserved areas.
- Total Subscribers: As of December 2025, Starlink connects over 9 million active customers across 155 countries.
- Growth Rate: The company added its most recent million users in just under seven weeks, a record pace of over 20,000 new users daily. Overall internet traffic from users more than doubled in 2025.
- Geographic Expansion: Starlink’s growth is heavily fueled by international markets where traditional broadband is limited. The U.S. subscriber base alone reached over 2 million by mid-2025.
- Infrastructure: SpaceX has focused heavily on scaling its network capacity, operating more than 9,000 active satellites in orbit and investing heavily in ground infrastructure.
Starlink’s Ground Network:
Starlink has also deployed the largest satellite ground network with more than 100 gateway sites in the United States alone – comprising a total of over 1,500 antennas – are strategically placed to deliver the lowest possible latency, especially for those who live in rural and remote areas.
Starlink produces these gateway antennas at our factory in Redmond, Washington where they rapidly scaled production to match satellite production and launch rate.
Network Resilience:
With more than 7,800 satellites in orbit, Starlink customers always have multiple satellites in view, as well as multiple gateway sites and internet points-of-presence locations (PoPs). As a result, Starlink customers benefit from continuous service even when terrestrial broadband is suffering from fiber cuts, subsea cable damage, and power outages that can deny service to millions of individuals for days.
Additionally, each Starlink satellite is equipped with cutting-edge optical links that ensure they can relay hundreds of gigabits of traffic directly with each other, no matter what happens on the ground. This laser network enables Starlink satellites to consistently and reliably deliver data around the world and route traffic around any ground conditions that affect terrestrial service at speeds that are physically impossible on Earth.
Starlink’s Latency:
To measure Starlink’s latency, the company collects anonymized measurements from millions of Starlink routers every 15 seconds. In the U.S., Starlink routers perform hundreds of thousands of speed test measurements and hundreds of billions of latency measurements every day. This high-frequency automated measurement assures consistent data quality, with minimal sampling bias, interference from Wi-Fi conditions, or bottlenecks from third-party hardware.
As of June 2025, Starlink is delivering median peak-hour latency of 25.7 milliseconds (ms) across all customers in the United States. In the US, fewer than one percent of measurements exceed 55 ms, significantly better than even some terrestrial operators.
- Addressing the Digital Divide: Starlink has positioned itself as a critical solution for rural and remote communities, offering high-speed, low-latency internet where fiber or cable is unfeasible.
- New Services: The company is expanding beyond individual households to include services for airlines, maritime operators, and businesses. There are also plans for a direct-to-cell service in partnership with mobile carriers like T-Mobile.
- Next-Generation Satellites: To manage the growing user base and increasing congestion, SpaceX plans to launch its larger, next-generation V3 satellites in 2026, which are designed to offer gigabit-class connectivity and dramatically increase network capacity.
- IPO Considerations: Starlink’s significant growth and role as SpaceX’s primary revenue driver have positioned the parent company for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in 2026.
Competition:
Starlink’s main LEO competitors are Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) and OneWeb (Eutelsat), aiming for similar high-speed, low-latency service, while established providers Hughesnet and Viasat (mostly GEO) offer more traditional, affordable satellite options but with higher lag, though they’re adapting. Starlink leads in consumer availability and speed currently, but Amazon and OneWeb are rapidly scaling to challenge its dominance with LEO constellations, offering faster speeds and lower latency than older satellite tech.
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References:
https://starlink.com/updates/network-update
Elon Musk: Starlink could become a global mobile carrier; 2 year timeframe for new smartphones
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
KDDI unveils AU Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
One NZ launches commercial Satellite TXT service using Starlink LEO satellites
Reliance Jio vs Starlink: administrative process or auction for satellite broadband services in India?
FCC: More competition for Starlink; freeing up spectrum for satellite broadband service
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
Starlink Direct to Cell service (via Entel) is coming to Chile and Peru be end of 2024
Elon Musk: Starlink could become a global mobile carrier; 2 year timeframe for new smartphones
Yesterday, during a segment of the All-in Podcast dedicated to the SpaceX-EchoStar spectrum sales agreement [1.], Space X/Starlink boss Elon Musk was asked if this sets the industry down a path where Starlink’s end goal is to emerge as a global carrier that, effectively, would limit the role of regional carriers. “That would be one of the options,” Musk responded. Musk downplayed any threat against AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. The podcast section dedicated to the EchoStar agreement starts around the 16:50 mark. You can start watching at that point via this YouTube link.
Note 1. SpaceX’s $17 billion agreement with EchoStar includes $8.5 billion in stock, plus $2 billion of cash interest payments payable on EchoStar debt. Separately, AT&T’s is paying $23 billion – all in cash – for its acquisition of EchoStar’s spectrum.
Regarding the EchoStar spectrum deal, Musk said, “This is kind of a long term thing. It will allow SpaceX to deliver high bandwidth connectivity directly from the satellites to the phones.”
Musk said that deal would not seriously challenge the big three U.S. mobile carriers. He said:
“To be clear, we’re not going to put the other carriers out of business. They’re still going to be around because they own a lot of spectrum. But, yes, you should be able to have a Starlink, like you have an AT&T or T-Mobile or Verizon, or whatever. You can have an account with Starlink that works with your Starlink [satellite] antenna at home with … Wi-Fi, as well as on your phone. We’d be a comprehensive solution for high bandwidth at home and high bandwidth for direct-to-cell.”
“Could you buy Verizon?” Musk was asked. “Not out of the question. I suppose that may happen,” Musk said with a chuckle.
That idea at least “highlights the possibility that SpaceX could pursue additional spectrum,” LightShed Partners analysts Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone explained in this blog post. “We highly doubt SpaceX has any interest in the people or infrastructure of a telco, there are plenty of compelling spectrum assets in and outside of those carriers to consider.”
Getting smartphones equipped with chips to support those new frequency bands will take some time. Musk estimated that’s “probably a two-year timeframe.” LightShed Partners analysts agreed, “On devices, Elon’s two-year timeline for a Starlink phone isn’t surprising given spectrum banding, chip development, and satellite integration. He’s mused before that if phone manufacturers continued to hinder his technology that he “would make a phone as a forcing function to compete with them.”
Some analysts view MVNO agreements as Starlink’s best route to becoming a full scale mobile carrier of satellite and terrestrial wireless services.
“The most plausible business model is that Starlink partners with MNOs for them to resell the service or embed the service as part of their plans,” Lluc Palerm Serra, research director at Analysys Mason, told PCMag.
LightShed Partners agreed. Musk’s point that SpaceX isn’t out to displace the incumbent carriers “reinforced our view that securing an MVNO deal will be essential if SpaceX wants to deliver a Starlink phone directly to consumers,” LightShed’s Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone explained in this blog post.
“In parallel, we’re working on the satellites and working with the handset makers to add these frequencies to the phones,” Musk said. “And the phones will then handshake well to achieve high-bandwidth connectivity. The net effect is that you should be able to watch videos anywhere on your phone.”
AT&T CEO John Stankey addressed Starlink’s “mobile-first” possibility earlier this week at an investor conference. Starlink’s current access to spectrum, including what is coming way of EchoStar, isn’t enough to create a “robust terrestrial replacement,” he said. But he acknowledged that, with the right type of commitments, perhaps it could happen someday.
“EchoStar still owns the highly lucrative 700 and AWS-3 spectrum, in which we note that all three wireless carriers have a robust ecosystem,” TD Cowen analyst Gregory Williams wrote in a note earlier this week. “Whether EchoStar sells more [spectrum] in short order remains to be seen,” TD Cowen’s Williams wrote Monday, explaining that, with the FCC dispute resolved, it may hold onto its portfolio longer. “EchoStar is not a forced seller, now has an excellent balance sheet and liquidity, and may desire to hold onto the spectrum as long as possible for higher sale valuations at a later date,” he added.
References:
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/turning-starlink-into-a-global-carrier-one-of-the-options-musk-says
Elon Talks Starlink Phone. Disruption Looms for Telcos and Apple
Huge significance of EchoStar’s AWS-4 spectrum sale to SpaceX
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
SpaceX has majority of all satellites in orbit; Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven
Huge significance of EchoStar’s AWS-4 spectrum sale to SpaceX
EchoStar has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its entire portfolio of prized AWS-4 [1.] and H-block spectrum licenses to SpaceX in a deal valued at approximately $19 billion. The spectrum purchase allows SpaceX to start building and deploying upgraded, laser-connected satellites that the company said will expand the cell network’s capacity by “more than 100 times.”
This deal marks EchoStar/Dish Network’s exit as a mobile network provider (goodbye multi-vendor 5G OpenRAN) which once again makes the U.S. wireless market a three-player (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) affair. Despite that operational failure, the deal helps EchoStar address regulatory pressure and strengthen its financial position, especially after AT&T agreed to buy spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion. 
The companies also agreed to a deal that will enable EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers to access Starlink direct-to-cell (D2C) service to extend satellite service to areas without mobile network service.
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Note 1. The AWS-4 spectrum band (2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz) is widely considered the “golden band” for D2C services. Unlike repurposed terrestrial spectrum, the AWS-4 band was originally allocated for Mobile Satellite Service (MSS).
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The AWS-4 spectrum acquisition transforms SpaceX from a D2C partner into an owner that controls its dedicated MSS spectrum. The deal with EchoStar will allow SpaceX to operate Starlink direct-to-cell (D2C) services on frequencies it owns, rather than relying solely on those leased from mobile carriers like T-Mobile and other mobile operators it’s working with (see References below).
Roger Entner wrote that SpaceX is now a “kingmaker.” He emailed this comment:
“With 50 MHz of dedicated spectrum, the raw bandwidth that Starlink can deliver increases by 1.5 GBbit/s. This is a substantial increase in speed to customers. The math is 30 bit/s/hz which is LTE spectral efficiency x 50 MHz = 1.5 Gbit/s. “This agreement makes Starlink an even more serious play in the D2C market as it will have first hand experience with how to utilize terrestrial spectrum. It is one thing to have this experience through a partner, this a completely different game when you own it.”
The combination of T-Mobile’s terrestrial network and Starlink’s enhanced D2C capabilities allows T-Mobile to market a service with virtually seamless connectivity that eliminates outdoor dead zones using Starlink’s spectrum.
“For the past decade, we’ve acquired spectrum and facilitated worldwide 5G spectrum standards and devices, all with the foresight that direct-to-cell connectivity via satellite would change the way the world communicates,” said Hamid Akhavan, president & CEO, EchoStar. “This transaction with SpaceX continues our legacy of putting the customer first as it allows for the combination of AWS-4 and H-block spectrum from EchoStar with the rocket launch and satellite capabilities from SpaceX to realize the direct-to-cell vision in a more innovative, economical and faster way for consumers worldwide.”
“We’re so pleased to be doing this transaction with EchoStar as it will advance our mission to end mobile dead zones around the world,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president & COO, SpaceX. “SpaceX’s first generation Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities have already connected millions of people when they needed it most – during natural disasters so they could contact emergency responders and loved ones – or when they would have previously been off the grid. In this next chapter, with exclusive spectrum, SpaceX will develop next generation Starlink Direct to Cell satellites, which will have a step change in performance and enable us to enhance coverage for customers wherever they are in the world.”
EchoStar anticipates this transaction with SpaceX along with the previously announced spectrum sale will resolve the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) inquiries. Closing of the proposed transaction will occur after all required regulatory approvals are received and other closing conditions are satisfied.
The EchoStar-Space X transaction is structured with a balanced mix of cash and equity plus interest payments:
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Cash and Stock Components: SpaceX will provide up to $8.5 billion in cash and an equivalent amount in its own stock, with the valuation fixed at the time the agreement was signed. This 50/50 structure provides EchoStar with immediate liquidity to address its creditors while allowing SpaceX to preserve capital for its immense expenditures on Starship and Starlink development. A pure stock deal would have been untenable for EchoStar, which is saddled with over $26.4 billion in debt, while a pure cash deal would have strained SpaceX.
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Debt Servicing: In a critical provision underscoring EchoStar’s dire financial state, SpaceX has also agreed to fund approximately $2 billion of EchoStar’s cash interest payments through November 2027.
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Commercial Alliance: The deal establishes a long-term commercial partnership wherein EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers will gain access to SpaceX’s next-generation Starlink D2C service. This provides a desperately needed lifeline for the struggling Boost brand. More strategically, this alliance serves as a masterful piece of regulatory maneuvering. It allows regulators to plausibly argue that they have preserved a “fourth wireless competitor,” providing the political cover necessary to approve a deal that permanently cements a three-player terrestrial market.
The move comes amid rapidly increasing U.S. mobile data usage. In 2024, Americans used a record 132 trillion megabytes of mobile data, up 35% over the prior all-time record, industry group CTIA said Monday.
About EchoStar Corporation:
EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) is a premier provider of technology, networking services, television entertainment and connectivity, offering consumer, enterprise, operator and government solutions worldwide under its EchoStar®, Boost Mobile®, Sling TV, DISH TV, Hughes®, HughesNet®, HughesON™, and JUPITER™ brands. In Europe, EchoStar operates under its EchoStar Mobile Limited subsidiary and in Australia, the company operates as EchoStar Global Australia. For more information, visit www.echostar.com and follow EchoStar on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn.
©2025 EchoStar, Hughes, HughesNet, DISH and Boost Mobile are registered trademarks of one or more affiliate companies of EchoStar Corp.
About SpaceX:
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced internet and Direct to Cell networks. Engineered to end mobile dead zones around the world, Starlink’s satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities enable ubiquitous access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters.
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References:
Mulit-vendor Open RAN stalls as Echostar/Dish shuts down it’s 5G network leaving Mavenir in the lurch
AT&T to buy spectrum Licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
Starlink’s Direct to Cell service for existing LTE phones “wherever you can see the sky”
Space X “direct-to-cell” service to start in the U.S. this fall, but with what wireless carrier? (T-Mobile)
KDDI unveils AU Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service
Starlink Direct to Cell service (via Entel) is coming to Chile and Peru be end of 2024
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
Telstra partners with Starlink for home phone service and LEO satellite broadband services
One NZ launches commercial Satellite TXT service using Starlink LEO satellites
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
GEO satellite internet providers provide reliable connectivity across large land masses, but their distance from Earth presents challenges to delivering low-latency and high-speed satellite Internet services. HughesNet and Viasat operate stationary satellites 22,000 miles above Earth, whereas LEO satellite operators such as Starlink have satellites orbiting a mere 340 miles above Earth. GEO satellites are also less ubiquitous than LEO satellites – GEO operators have fewer satellites in their constellations.
According to Ookla, GEO satellite providers HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with Starlink when it comes to latency and download speeds. HughesNet and Viasat are best-known for providing consistent coverage across large land masses. But because they operate in geostationary orbit rather than low-Earth orbit (LEO) and because they have fewer satellites in their constellations, they struggle with speed limitations and latency, making it difficult for them to compete with LEO providers such as SpaceX’s Starlink.
HughesNet and Viasat have three satellites each in their fleet delivering fixed broadband service. Viasat plans to launch its Viasat-3 F2 satellite later this year and the Viasat-3 F3 in 2026. In addition, it owns a fleet of satellites from the company’s Inmarsat acquisition in May 2023 which are primarily used in maritime and mission-critical applications.
The challenges facing these GEO satellite providers have become more pronounced over the past few years, particularly as Starlink has moved aggressively into the U.S. market with promotions such as its recent offer to provide free equipment to new customers in states where it has excess capacity.
“HughesNet and Viasat are losing subscribers at a rapid rate thanks to competition from LEO satellite provider Starlink with its lower latency and faster download speeds,” according to Sue Marek, editorial director and analyst with Ookla.
Ookla’s Key Takeaways:
- HughesNet saw its median multi-server latency improve from 1019 milliseconds (ms) in Q1 2022 to 683 ms in Q1 2025. Viasat’s median latency increased slightly over that time period from 676 ms in Q1 2022 to 684 ms in Q1 2025. But neither are remotely close to matching Starlink with its median latency of just 45 ms in Q1 2025.
- HughesNet more than doubled its median download speeds from 20.87 Mbps in Q1 2022 to 47.79 Mbps in Q1 2025 while Viasat increased its median download speeds from 25.18 Mbps to 49.12 Mbps during that same time period.
- Upload speeds are another area where GEO satellite constellations struggle to compete with Starlink and other low-Earth orbit systems. HughesNet has increased its median upload speeds from 2.87 Mbps in Q1 2022 to 4.44 Mbps in Q1 2025 but that is still far lower than Starlink, which has a median upload speed of 14.84 Mbps in Q1 2025. Viasat saw its median upload speeds decline over that same time period from 3.06 Mbps in Q1 2022 to 1.08 Mbps in Q1 2025.
- HughesNet and Viasat are losing subscribers at a rapid rate thanks to competition from LEO satellite provider Starlink with its lower latency and faster download speeds.
Meanwhile, Starlink has nearly 8,000 satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) as part of its mega-constellation, according to Space.com. Starlink’s median download speeds, according to data from Ookla’s Speedtest users, almost doubled from 53.95 Mbit/s in Q3 2022 to 104.71 Mbit/s in Q1 2025. These latest average download speeds are also nearly twice that of HughesNet and Viasat.
In addition to network performance, Starlink has made strides in the U.S. market with promotions and distribution of free equipment to “new customers in states where it has excess capacity,” said Marek. In May, Starlink offered its Standard Kit, priced at $349, for free to consumers in select areas who agree to a one-year service commitment. But, “high demand” areas would still need to pay a one-time, upfront “demand surcharge” of $100, the company said.
Starlink is making headway teaming up with terrestrial service providers on direct-to-device (D2D) services, which connect smartphones and mobile devices directly to satellite networks in areas of spotty wireless service. Canada’s Rogers Communications launched a beta D2D service this week that initially supports text messaging via Starlink LEO satellites. The Canadian operator is also working with Lynk Global in a multi-vendor approach to D2D. Starlink announced this week that it has over 500,000 customers across Canada.
T-Mobile’s D2D service, T-Satellite with Starlink, will be commercially available later this month and will include SMS texting, MMS, picture messaging and short audio clips. In October, T-Satellite will add a data service to its Starlink-based satellite offering.
However, T-Mobile announced it would bump up the launch of T-Satellite to areas impacted by the recent flooding in central Texas. During a number of recent natural disasters, Starlink has offered free services and/or satellite equipment kits to affected communities.
Starlink is providing Mini Kits, which support 50 gigabyte and unlimited roaming data subscriptions, for search and rescue efforts in central Texas, in addition to one month of free service to customers in the areas impacted by recent flooding. In January, the satellite operator offered about a month of free service to new customers and a one-month service credit to existing customers in areas affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Starlink could be facing increasing competition from Project Kuiper, Amazon’s LEO satellite broadband service, as it ramps up deployment of a planned LEO constellation of over 3,000 satellites. However, Project Kuiper has fallen far behind schedule in meeting the FCC’s deadline of having more than 1,600 LEO satellites in orbit by the summer of 2026. Since its initial launch in April, Amazon only has a total of 78 satellites in orbit, according to CNBC. Meanwhile, Starlink has launched over 2,300 satellites in the past year alone.
References:
https://www.ookla.com/articles/hughesnet-viasat-performance-2025
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-15-2-b1093-vsfs-ocisly
KDDI unveils AU Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
One NZ launches commercial Satellite TXT service using Starlink LEO satellites
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
FCC: More competition for Starlink; freeing up spectrum for satellite broadband service
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
Starlink’s Direct to Cell service for existing LTE phones “wherever you can see the sky”
ABI Research and CCS Insight: Strong growth for satellite to mobile device connectivity (messaging and broadband internet access)
AST SpaceMobile completes 1st ever LEO satellite voice call using AT&T spectrum and unmodified Samsung and Apple smartphones
PCMag Study: Starlink speed and latency top satellite Internet from Hughes and Viasat’s Exede
FCC to investigate Dish Network’s compliance with federal requirements to build a nationwide 5G network
In a letter to Charlie Ergen, the chairman and co-founder of network operator EchoStar, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr wrote that the agency’s staff would investigate the company’s compliance with requirements to build a nationwide 5G network as per the terms of its federal spectrum licenses. EchoStar owns both Dish Network and Boost Mobile’s wireless service. Dish has said its 5G network covers more than 268 million people and has met all of its regulatory requirements.
In 2019, the U.S. government set several construction milestones for Dish Network to maintain cellular licenses worth billions of dollars. The company agreed to meet specific buildout obligations in connection with a number of spectrum licenses across several different bands. In particular, the FCC agreed to relax some of EchoStar’s then-existing buildout obligations in exchange for EchoStar’s commitment to put its licensed spectrum to work deploying a nationwide 5G broadband network. EchoStar promised—among other things—that its network would cover, by June 14, 2025, at least 70% of the population within each of its licensed geographic areas for its AWS-4 and 700 MHz licenses, and at least 75% of the population within each of its licensed geographic areas for its H Block and 600 MHz licenses.
“The FCC structured the buildout obligations to prevent spectrum warehousing and to ensure that Americans would gain broader access to high-speed wireless services, including in underserved and rural areas.”
Ergen said that the company has worked collaboratively with FCC leaders since it launched its first pay-TV satellite more than 30 years ago. He added that EchoStar’s network creates American jobs and furthers a critical Trump administration priority of ensuring “the United States is at the forefront of wireless leadership and that our infrastructure is free of Chinese vendors.” Full text of his statement is below.
Ergen is reportedly working to pivot his satellite TV business from a declining pay-TV model to a “direct-to-device” business that connects smartphones from space, among other services. Carr laid out plans for the agency to seek public comment on how mobile-satellite services could use some spectrum that EchoStar currently holds. EchoStar is among a group of satellite companies that already hold licenses to provide mobile-device links, though they lack the dense network of modern satellites that Starlink has at its disposal.
SpaceX said in an April letter that EchoStar’s spectrum in the 2 Gigahertz band “remains ripe for sharing among next-generation satellite systems.” The company urged the commission to launch a new rule-making process to add new competitors to the band. EchoStar has accused SpaceX of a spectrum land grab.
Separately, Dish Network has spent years wiring thousands of cellphone towers to help Boost become a wireless operator that could rival AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, but the project has been slow-going. Boost’s subscriber base has shrunk in the five years since Ergen bought the brand from Sprint so it is not at all competitive with its big three U.S. cellular rivals.
Dish Network under FCC microscope, Art by Midjourney for Fierce Network
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Charlie Ergen’s Statement in Response to FCC Letter:
“We have worked collaboratively with FCC leaders since we launched our first DBS satellite more than 30 years ago. Today, we are proud to have invested tens of billions to deploy the world’s largest 5G Open RAN network – primarily using American vendors – across 24,000 5G sites, to offer broadband service to over 268 million people nationwide. Through this deployment, which is possible thanks to scores of tower climbers, engineers, and partners, we have met or exceeded all of the commitments we have entered into with the FCC to date. And our work is not yet finished as we continue to deploy and invest in our network. Not only does our network create American jobs and a competitive alternative to incumbent wireless carriers, it also furthers another critical Trump Administration priority: deploying Open RAN to ensure the United States is at the forefront of wireless leadership and that our infrastructure is free of Chinese vendors. Thanks to our nationwide pricing model and agreements with partner carriers, Boost Mobile is available at affordable prices to Americans across the country – including in rural and hard to reach communities. Indeed, our new buildout deadlines – which are consistent with FCC practice under the past two Administrations where the Wireless Bureau granted hundreds of buildout extensions – came with additional, substantial pro-competitive commitments that EchoStar has fulfilled. As we continue to invest in and expand our terrestrial network deployment, we are also working to provide Open RAN direct-to-device satellite technology, bringing additional connectivity to all Americans in the U.S. and around the world.
EchoStar worked tirelessly to establish 3GPP NTN standard for D2D. With D2D 3GPP standards now complete, EchoStar has the global capability in terms of expertise, spectrum, and ITU priority to bring this to fruition. We are now testing new S-band services in both North America and Europe, and this year we launched a LEO satellite with several more planned in the coming months. We look forward to continuing this important work to help the Administration and FCC continue to deliver for the American people.”
References:
https://prod-i.a.dj.com/public/resources/documents/Carr-Ergen-letter.pdf
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/fcc-questions-echostar-about-how-its-using-5g-spectrum
https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/echostar-confirms-fcc-letter-to-company-ergen-makes-statement
Dish Network & Nokia: world’s first 5G SA core network deployed on public cloud (AWS)
Dish Network to FCC on its “game changing” OpenRAN deployment
Analysis of Dish Network – AWS partnership to build 5G Open RAN cloud native network
KDDI unveils AU Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service
KDDI-owned AU [1.] launched Japan’s first direct satellite service, connecting 40% of remote island and mountain populations in Japan that terrestrial networks cannot now reach. The new service, called AU Starlink Direct, is also available to subscribers of Okinawa Cellular, a KDDI-owned company serving the group of islands located in southern Japan. KDDI and Okinawa Cellular will start providing AU Starlink Direct, a direct to cell service between satellites and AU smartphones, on April 10, 2025. This is the first Direct to Cell satellite service in Japan.
Note 1. AU is a brand marketed by KDDI in the main islands of Japan and by Okinawa Cellular in Okinawa for their mobile cellular services. acquired au in 2001, initially through a merger of DDI, KDD, and IDO, and subsequently absorbing au’s parent company. KDDI continues to operate the AU brand for its mobile services.
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The service is compatible with 50 smartphone models and is available free of charge to au users from today for the time being without the need to apply. Subscribers of AU and Okinawa Cellular whose iPhone and Android devices support satellite mode can try the service.
Source: Sean Prior/Alamy Stock Photo
Although AU has nearly 100% population coverage, mobile operators’ 4G and 5G networks effectively serve only about 60% of the population because mobile signal cannot reach remote islands and mountainous areas. The new AU Starlink Direct service allows the operator to bridge this digital divide by enabling customers in these dead zones to connect directly to a Starlink satellite using compatible smartphones.
The service can be used to communicate with family members and friends, in emergencies, etc., even in mountainous areas, island areas, and campgrounds and at sea where it is difficult to provide a telecommunications environment. KDDI is expanding the AU coverage area to all of Japan to bring the experience of “Connecting the Unconnected. wherever you see the sky.”
Gwynne Shotwell, President & COO of SpaceX, said: “I’m very excited to bring direct-to-cell phone connectivity to Japan through KDDI, the first in Asia and one of the first in the world. Both Starlink and direct-to-cell are game-changing technologies, making connecting the unconnected simple and bringing potentially life-saving capability to the people of Japan for disaster and other emergency responses.”
KDDI conducted a successful field test of AU Starlink Direct in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture, nearly six months ago.
References:
https://newsroom.kddi.com/english/news/detail/kddi_nr-533_3818.html
https://newsroom.kddi.com/english/news/detail/kddi_nr-299_3557.html
KDDI Partners With SpaceX to Bring Satellite-to-Cellular Service to Japan
SpaceX and KDDI to test Satellite Internet in Japan
KDDI Deploys DriveNets Network Cloud: The 1st Disaggregated, Cloud-Native IP Infrastructure Deployed in Japan
AWS Integrated Private Wireless with Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, Orange, T-Mobile US, and Telefónica partners
Samsung and KDDI complete SLA network slicing field trial on 5G SA network in Japan
KDDI claims world’s first 5G Standalone (SA) Open RAN site using Samsung vRAN and Fujitsu radio units
Samsung vRAN to power KDDI 5G network in Japan
U.S. BEAD overhaul to benefit Starlink/SpaceX at the expense of fiber broadband providers
The U.S. The Commerce Department is examining changes to the NTIA’s $42.5 billion broadband funding bill (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment- BEAD), which endeavors to expand internet access in underserved/unserved areas. [BEAD was part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) during the Biden administration] The proposed new rules will make it much easier for Elon Musk owned Starlink satellite-internet service, to tap in to rural broadband funding, according to the Wall Street Journal. [Starlink is owned by SpaceX which is majority owned by Elon Musk).
Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick said that BEAD will be revamped “to take a tech-neutral approach that is rigorously driven by outcomes, so states can provide internet access for the lowest cost.” The department is also “exploring ways to cut government red tape that slows down infrastructure construction. We will work with states and territories to quickly get rid of the delays and the waste. Thereafter, we will move quickly to implementation in order to get households connected. All Americans will receive the benefit of the bargain that Congress intended for BEAD. We’re going to deliver high-speed internet access, and we will do it efficiently and effectively at the lowest cost to taxpayers.”
By making the broadband the grant program “technology-neutral,” it will free up states to award more funds to satellite-internet providers such as Starlink, rather than mainly to companies that lay fiber-optic cables which connect the millions of U.S. households that lack high-speed internet service.
The potential new rules could greatly increase the share of funding available to Starlink. Under the BEAD program’s original rules, Starlink was expected to get up to $4.1 billion, said people familiar with the matter. With Commerce’s overhaul, Starlink, a unit of Musk’s SpaceX, could receive $10 billion to $20 billion.
“The Trump administration is committed to slashing government bureaucracy and harnessing cutting-edge technology to deliver real results for the American people, especially rural Americans who were left behind” under the Biden administration, White House spokesman Kush Desai said.
“Leave it alone; let the states do what they’ve done,” Missouri State Rep. Louis Riggs, a Republican, said in a recent interview. “The feds could not do what the states have done. In 10 or 15 years, all they basically did, they walked in and screwed everything up. God love them, they just keep throwing money at the problem, which is okay when you give it to the states and let us do our jobs, but trying to claw that funding back and stand up a new grant round is the worst idea I’ve heard in a very long time, and that’s saying a lot coming out of D.C.”
The overhaul could be announced as soon as this week, possibly without some details in place, the people said. Following any changes, states might have to rewrite their plans for how to spend their funding from the program, which could delay the implementation.
Lutnick told Commerce staff he plans to do away with other BEAD program rules, including some related to climate impact and sustainability, as well as provisions that encouraged states to fund companies with a racially diverse workforce or union participation, the people said. The program requires internet-service providers that receive funding to offer affordable plans for lower-income customers. Lutnick saids he is considering reducing those obligations.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House last month. Photo: Francis Chung/Pool/Cnp/ZUMA Press
Many broadband providers worried the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would eliminate or reduce the program’s funding. Is that not a conflict of interest considering that Musk owns Starlink/SpaceX?
Given the overhaul, fiber broadband providers may not benefit from it as much as they expected because non-fiber technologies are poised to receive more funding than before.
Fiber Broadband Association CEO Gary Bolton said in a statement that all “Americans deserve fiber for their critical broadband infrastructure. Fiber provides significantly better performance on every metric, such as broadband speeds, capacity, lowest latency and jitter, highest resiliency, sustainability and provides the maximum benefit for economic development and is required for AI, Quantum Networking, smart grid modernization, public safety, 5G and the future of mobile wireless communications. We urge our policymakers to do what’s right for people and to not penalize Americans for where they live or their current income levels.”
Telecommunications and broadband consultant John Greene wrote that states that have started the sub-grantee selection process, such as Louisiana, “might be forced to rethink their process in light of potential new rules.” Other “states, like Texas, might be better served to pause their process until after Commerce has completed their review and made any necessary changes,” he said.
References:
Nokia will manufacture broadband network electronics in U.S. for BEAD program
New FCC Chairman Carr Seen Clarifying Space Rules and Streamlining Approvals Process
Highlights of FiberConnect 2024: PON-related products dominate
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
Australia’s Telstra currently works with Space X’s Starlink to provide low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite home and small business Internet services. Today, the company announced it will be adding direct-to-device (D2D) text messaging services for customers in Australia. We wrote about that in this IEEE Techblog post. Telstra’s new D2D service is currently in the testing phase and not yet available commercially. Telstra forecasts it will be available from most outdoor areas on mainland Australia and Tasmania where there is a direct line of sight to the sky.
Telstra already has the largest and most reliable mobile network in Australia covering 99.7% of the Australian population over an area of 3 million square kilometres, which is more than 1 million square kilometres greater than our nearest competitor. But Australia’s landmass is vast and there will always be large areas where mobile and fixed networks do not reach, and this is where satellite technology will play a complementary role to our existing networks. As satellite technology continues to evolve to support voice, data and IoT Telsa plans to explore opportunities for the commercial launch of those new services.
Telstra previously teamed up with satellite provider Eutelsat OneWeb to deliver OneWeb low-Earth orbit (LEO) mobile backhaul to customers in Australia. The telco said the D2D text messaging service with Starlink will provide improved coverage to customers in regional and remote areas. Telstra’s mobile network covers 99.7% of the Australian population over an area of 3 million square kilometers. The company said it has invested $11.8 billion into its mobile network in Australia over the past seven years. As satellite technology advances, Telstra plans to look into voice, data and IoT services.
T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are all working on satellite-based text messaging services. Many D2D providers such as Starlink have promised text messaging services initially with plans to add more bandwidth-heavy applications, including voice and video, at a later date. “The first Starlink satellite direct to cell phone constellation is now complete,” SpaceX’s Elon Musk wrote on social media in December 2024. That’s good news for T-Mobile, which plans to launch a D2D service with Starlink in the near future. Verizon and AT&T and working with satellite provider AST SpaceMobile to develop their own D2D services.
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What is Satellite-to-Mobile technology?
Satellite-to-Mobile is one of the most exciting areas in the whole telco space and creates a future where outdoor connectivity for basic services, starting with text messages and, eventually, voice and low-rates of data, may be possible from some of Australia’s most remote locations. You may also hear it referred to as Direct to Handset or DTH technology.
What makes this technology so interesting is that for many people, they won’t need to buy a specific compatible phone to send an SMS over Satellite-to-Mobile, as it will take advantage of technology already inside modern smartphones.
Satellite-to-Mobile will complement our existing land-based mobile network offering basic connectivity where people have never had it before.* This technology will continue to mature and will initially support sending and receiving text messages, and in the longer term, voice and low speed data to smartphones across Australia when outdoors with a clear line of site to the sky. Just as mobile networks didn’t replace fibre networks, it’s important to realise the considerable difference between the carrying capacity of satellite versus mobile technology.
Who will benefit most from Satellite-to-Mobile technology?
Satellite-to-Mobile is most relevant to people in regional and remote areas of the country that are outside their carrier’s mobile coverage footprint.
Currently, Satellite-to-Mobile technology allows users to send a message only.
This is currently really a “just-in-case” connectivity layer that allows a person to make contact for help or let someone know they are ok when they are outside their own carrier’s mobile coverage footprint.
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References:
https://www.telstra.com.au/internet/starlink
https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/telstra-to-bring-spacex-s-starlink-satellite-to-mobile-technolog
https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/telstra-taps-starlink-for-d2d-satellite-messaging-service
https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/amazon-d2d-offerings-are-in-development-
Telstra partners with Starlink for home phone service and LEO satellite broadband services
AT&T deal with AST SpaceMobile to provide wireless service from space
AST SpaceMobile: “5G” Connectivity from Space to Everyday Smartphones
AST SpaceMobile achieves 4G LTE download speeds >10 Mbps during test in Hawaii
AST SpaceMobile completes 1st ever LEO satellite voice call using AT&T spectrum and unmodified Samsung and Apple smartphones
AST SpaceMobile Deploys Largest-Ever LEO Satellite Communications Array
