Starlink Adds 1.6 Million Subscribers and Ends Quarter with 11,100 Satellites
Starlink ended the third quarter with over 11,100 satellites in orbit and 1.6 million new subscribers, with communications revenue reaching $5.2 billion, up 22% from the previous quarter.
SpaceX's Starlink service ended the third quarter of 2026 with more than 11,100 satellites in low Earth orbit, including 26 third-generation satellites launched by Starship's fourteenth flight, according to a filing submitted by the company to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The service added 1.6 million subscribers during the three months, operating across 174 markets worldwide. President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell stated that this figure does not include hundreds of thousands of enterprise and aviation sector subscribers.
Communications sector revenue reached $5.2 billion, a 22% increase from the previous quarter, while total sector costs rose by $974 million year-over-year due to satellite fleet expansion, receiver terminal deliveries, and marketing campaigns.
The company expects to deploy third-generation satellites in large numbers via Starship through the end of the year and into 2027, as well as launch second-generation Starlink Mobile satellites starting in 2027, alongside enhancing direct-to-cell connectivity services.
What do these terms mean?
Low Earth Orbit: An orbit around Earth at an altitude of less than 2,000 kilometers, used by most internet satellites because it reduces latency compared to higher orbits.
Third-Generation Satellites: A newer version of Starlink satellites that provides significantly greater data transmission capacity per launch compared to previous generations.
Direct-to-Cell Connectivity: A service that allows mobile phones to connect directly to a satellite without needing a nearby ground cell tower.
Weekly Newsletter
Read between the lines before everyone else. Decode the most important economic, tech, and decision-maker movements in the region.. in 5 minutes every Saturday.
