Elon Musk’s SpaceX released an update on its Starlink internet service Thursday as the company launched more satellites into orbit.
SpaceX engineer Jessie Anderson said during a webcast on the company’s first launch this year that Starlink now has more than 145,000 users in 25 countries around the world. That’s an increase from 140,000 users in early November, but a slowdown in user growth.
The company launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on Thursday that carried 49 Starlink satellites toward orbit.
Starlink is the company’s plan to create an interconnected Internet network with thousands of satellites – known in the aerospace industry as a Constellation. It is designed to bring high-speed internet to consumers all over the world. SpaceX has approximately 1,800 Starlink satellites in orbit.
The increase of 5,000 users in two months means a slowdown in growth. By November, SpaceX had added around 11,000 users per month since the service began in October 2020.
Late last year, SpaceX stated on its website that “silicon shortages have delayed production” of Starlink user terminals, “which has affected our ability to fulfill orders”.
SpaceX’s valuation has soared to over $ 100 billion, which industry analysts largely attribute to the market potential of its Starlink service.
