Starlink
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
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) unveils satellite broadband for enterprises; Competitive analysis with Starlink
Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) has now disclosed its enterprise-focused hardware, services, and capabilities, and launching a new preview program for select enterprise customers to begin testing Amazon Leo services ahead of a wider commercial rollout in 2026. With more than 150 satellites in orbit and initial network testing underway, Amazon Leo aims to provide high-speed internet service to those beyond the reach of existing networks, including the millions of businesses, government entities, and organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity.
Amazon revealed the final production design of Amazon Leo Ultra, an advanced, enterprise-grade terminal that delivers best-in-class performance for demanding private and public sector applications. The full-duplex phased array antenna (see photo below) provides download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds up to 400 Mbps, making it the fastest commercial phased array antenna in production.
- The standard customer terminal for most users is the Leo Pro, offering downlink speeds of up to 400 Mbps in an 11”x11” package, and the Leo Nano is a 7×7” model that delivers downlink speeds up to 100 Mbps.
- For the Leo Pro and Leo Nano customer terminals, Amazon overlaid transmit and receive phased array antennas to deliver high performance while reducing size—the first time that had been done in the Ka-band.
- Leo Ultra is the most powerful antenna in their lineup, specifically designed for demanding enterprise applications. It features advanced networking capabilities, including simultaneous upload and download capabilities and seamless integration with existing enterprise network infrastructure. The transmit and receive antennas are side by side to maximize performance and allow for full duplex operation, which means the antenna can simultaneously transmit and receive data at high speeds. Leo Ultra is engineered for the elements with a durable, weather-resistant design that can withstand high-and low temperatures, precipitation, and strong winds. Its sleek and integrated design eliminates moving parts while enabling rapid installation and reliable operation across a wide range of locations.
Amazon Leo will offer enterprise-grade features including easy-to-use network management tools, advanced encryption across the network, and 24/7 priority customer support. The service is designed to support critical business applications including real-time data processing, remote operations management, and secure communications for teams working in field locations. It also connects directly to Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as other cloud and on-premise networks, allowing customers to securely move data from remote assets to private networks without touching the public internet. Amazon Leo will offer two primary private networking solutions:
- Direct to AWS: With Direct to AWS (D2A), AWS customers can connect directly to their cloud workloads using an AWS Transit Gateway or AWS Direct Connect Gateway through a point-and-click interface on the Amazon Leo web console, simplifying network management and lowering latency.
- Private Network Interconnect: Enterprises and telecommunications providers can also establish private network interconnects (PNI) at major colocation facilities to connect remote locations directly to their data center or core network, enabling Private Networking in days rather than the weeks or months typically required to deploy traditional private circuits.
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Quotes:
“Amazon Leo represents a massive opportunity for businesses operating in challenging environments,” said Chris Weber, vice president of consumer and enterprise business for Amazon Leo. “From our satellite and network design to our portfolio of high-performance phased array antennas, we’ve designed Amazon Leo to meet the needs of some of the most complex business and government customers out there, and we’re excited to provide them with the tools they need to transform their operations, no matter where they are in the world.”
An anonymous Amazon Leo spokesperson told Fierce Network, “We have a broad mix of customers, some of whom are also customers of AWS. We’ll expand service to more customers, including residential users, as we add coverage and capacity to the network in 2026. We’ll share details as we get closer to general availability.”
“We’ve made a ton of progress already this year with six successful missions sending more than 150 satellites to orbit; our next mission is coming up on December 15 to deploy another 27 satellites; and we’re processing satellites for the next missions after that. We need more satellites up before we can offer 24-hour coverage, and we expect to accelerate deployment in the coming months as we begin launching on new heavy-lift rockets like Vulcan, New Glenn and Ariane 6 that can carry more satellites per launch,” said the spokesperson.
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| Feature | Starlink (SpaceX) | Amazon Leo (Amazon) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Status | Fully operational, with a large, established customer base. | In an “enterprise preview” phase with select businesses; commercial rollout expected in 2026. |
| Satellites in Orbit | Over 9,000 satellites currently deployed. | Over 150 satellites currently deployed, with a goal of over 3,000. |
| Target Audience | Broad focus on consumers, rural users, businesses, aviation, and maritime. | Initial focus on enterprise, government, and telecom providers, with consumer service planned for later. |
| Max Speeds | Current median speeds around 200 Mbps for residential, higher for business plans (up to 400 Mbps+ with certain hardware). | Promises up to 1 Gbps download speeds with its enterprise-grade Leo Ultra antenna. |
| Differentiation | Known for its broad availability and relatively low-cost consumer hardware. | Emphasizes seamless integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and enhanced private networking features for business customers. |
- Technological Rivalry: The competition is fueled by a high-profile rivalry between founders Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon), whose separate space ventures also compete.
- Market Growth: The entry of Amazon Leo is expected to drive innovation and provide customers with more options, potentially driving down prices and improving services across the industry.
References:
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-satellite-internet-ultra-pro
https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/amazon-leo-previews-its-satellite-broadband-enterprises
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
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
Amazon to Spend Billions on 38 Space Launches for Project Kuiper
Verizon partners with Amazon Project Kuiper to offer FWA in unconnected and underserved areas
FCC grants Amazon’s Kuiper license for NGSO satellite constellation for internet services
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
Elon Musk: Starlink could become a global mobile carrier; 2 year timeframe for new smartphones
FCC: More competition for Starlink; freeing up spectrum for satellite broadband service
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
NBN selects Amazon Project Kuiper over Starlink for LEO satellite internet service in Australia
Government-owned wholesale broadband operator NBN Co will become the first major customer of Amazon’s Project Kuiper Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet technology in Australia beginning in the middle of 2026. At that time, NBN Co plans to offer wholesale residential-grade fixed LEO satellite broadband services to more than 300,000 premises within our existing satellite footprint via participating Retail Service Providers (RSPs).
The agreement will enable NBN Co to transition from its existing geostationary Sky Muster satellite service over the coming years and will complement NBN Co’s investments in fiber and fixed wireless upgrades for regional Australia.
NBN Co will shortly start consultation with RSPs, regional communities and stakeholders, to help inform what speed tiers are offered, wholesale pricing and the upgrade for customers. The consultation will consider the offer of equipment and professional initial standard installation and assurance at no cost for existing eligible NBN satellite customers, via participating RSPs.
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Project Kuiper’s low-latency, high-bandwidth satellite network will provide significant improvements to the quality and reliability of broadband for eligible regional, rural and remote communities. To achieve its goals, Project Kuiper is deploying thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit —connected to each other by high-speed optical links that will create a mesh network in space—and linked to a global network of antennas, fiber, and internet connection points on the ground.
The initial satellite constellation will include more than 3,200 satellites, which began deploying on April 28, 2025 with its first operational launch. That initial launch consisted of 27 production satellites and was carried out by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, according to the United Launch Alliance. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
There are currently 78 Kuiper satellites in orbit, after three successful launches in less than three months. Amazon is continuing to increase its production, processing and launch rates ahead of an initial service rollout.
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In the coming years, LEO satellite services powered by Project Kuiper will replace NBN’s current geostationary orbit Sky Muster satellite service. The company plans to maintain and operate its two geostationary Sky Muster satellites until the transition to the Project Kuiper satellite network is complete. This will ensure continuity for customers in regional, rural, and remote parts of Australia who rely on satellite telecommunications. However, the two Sky Muster satellites are expected to remain operational until approximately 2032.
The agreement between NBN and Amazon is expected to introduce competition to the LEO-based satellite internet services market, particularly in regional Australia. Currently, Starlink dominates this market as the only LEO satellite operator. As of April 2025, Starlink claimed to have more than 350,000 customers in Australia.
Telecom analyst Paul Budde told Reuters that NBN’s decision to partner with Amazon was probably influenced by the need to limit sovereign risk arising from giving control of essential Australian infrastructure to a company aligned with “a very unpredictable America. I am sure total dependence on Starlink would not be seen as a favorable situation,” he added.
Ellie Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer at NBN Co, said:
“LEO satellite broadband, supplied by NBN Co and powered by Amazon’s Project Kuiper, will be a major leap forward for customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia.
“This important agreement will complement our other major network upgrades that have involved the rollout of full fibre services across much of our fixed line network and the deployment of the latest 5G millimeter wave technology to improve the speed and capacity of our fixed wireless network.
“Australians deserve to have access to fast, effective broadband regardless of whether they live in a major city, on the outskirts of a country town or miles from their nearest neighbor. That’s what NBN was set up to deliver. By upgrading to next generation LEO satellite broadband powered by Project Kuiper, we are working to bring the best available technology to Aussies in the bush.
“Transitioning from two geostationary satellites to a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites will help to ensure the nbn network is future-ready and delivers the best possible broadband experience to customers living and working in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia.
“We plan to bring faster, lower latency broadband to Australians living and working in regional, rural and remote areas, enabling their ongoing participation in the economy for work, study, telehealth, streaming entertainment and connecting with family and friends.
“This new LEO service will eventually replace our geostationary satellites, and we are committed to working with regional communities to ensure we provide continuity of service and make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible.”
Rajeev Badyal, Vice President, Technology at Amazon’s Project Kuiper, said:
“We’ve designed Project Kuiper to be the most advanced satellite system ever built, and we’re combining that innovation with Amazon’s long track record of making everyday life better for customers. We’re proud to be working with NBN to bring Kuiper to even more customers and communities across Australia and look forward to creating new opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people in rural and remote parts of the country.”
References:
https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/nbn-amazon-deal-to-bring-project-kuiper-to-australia-by-2026
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/project-kuiper-satellite-internet-first-launch
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
Amazon to Spend Billions on 38 Space Launches for Project Kuiper
Telstra selects SpaceX’s Starlink to bring Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging to its customers in Australia
GEO satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat can’t compete with LEO Starlink in speed or latency
FCC: More competition for Starlink; freeing up spectrum for satellite broadband service
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
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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
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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
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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
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AST SpaceMobile completes 1st ever LEO satellite voice call using AT&T spectrum and unmodified Samsung and Apple smartphones
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