A speedtest has revealed that SpaceX’s Starlink internet download speeds are dropping by double digits as the futuristic network struggles with a mass of new users.
Throughout 2022 Starlink has rapidly expanded across America, with users increasing over 200 per cent, and the area in which they are situated now covering three-quarters of the country.
Meanwhile, all that extra traffic has slowed average download speeds by 17 per cent in the US, with Canadian users seeing a 14 per cent speed hit. It seems the states that have the fastest speeds are the least congested: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Interestingly, upload speeds haven’t been impacted by the traffic.
This is a major problem. To counteract it, CEO Elon Musk has introduced an extra tiered system to spread out bandwidth, as well as de-prioritising those users who chew up more than 1TB of data per month.
The solution may be have already arrived.
This morning, the FCC gave SpaceX permission to launch 7,500 of a proposed constellation of nearly 30,000 satellites.
“Our action will allow SpaceX to begin deployment of Gen2 Starlink, which will bring next generation satellite broadband to Americans nationwide,” the FCC said.
Yesterday, Australia’s fourth-largest telco Vocus announced a deal in which it will sell Starlink subscriptions in Australia.
