SpaceX has applied to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make significant upgrades to its Starlink satellite system, aiming to provide gigabit-per-second broadband speeds.
Initially promised in 2016, the company now plans to boost its internet speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. SpaceX said the updates would enable its Gen2 system to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved populations worldwide, addressing the global digital divide.
As part of the proposed improvements, SpaceX intends to lower the operational altitudes of its satellites to between 475 km and 485 km. CEO Elon Musk noted that Starship, SpaceX’s massive next-generation rocket, is the only vehicle capable of launching the larger Gen2 satellites, which are expected to increase bandwidth tenfold and reduce latency. These advancements would position Starlink as a competitive player in the global broadband market.
Starlink has already made significant inroads into Africa, with operations now live in Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. In Kenya, the satellite service has quickly climbed the ranks, becoming the country’s tenth-largest internet service provider (ISP) within a year, with over 8,000 users and a 0.5% market share. In response to Starlink’s growth, local telecom giant Safaricom has boosted its fibre internet speeds and is reportedly planning its own satellite services.
In Zimbabwe, telecom provider NetOne has also reacted to Starlink’s entry by launching 5G base stations to improve internet connectivity. The competition in Africa’s telecommunications market is intensifying, as Starlink’s presence encourages ISPs to enhance their services to retain customers. Authorities in Cameroon have raised concerns that Starlink’s arrival could disrupt the country’s state-run ISP, Camtel.
In addition to its service expansion, Starlink is seeking “small-but-meaningful” changes to its Gen2 space station authorisation. These updates aim to improve the system’s sustainability in space, enhance spectrum-sharing capabilities, and improve network performance. The company’s broader vision is to bridge the global digital divide by providing affordable, high-speed internet in remote areas worldwide.