SpaceX Aims for 100k New Starlink Satellites to Boost Bandwidth 100-Fold

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By Steven Vaughan-Nichols, Senior Contributing Editor
Published July 10, 2026

📌 Key Highlights

• The proposed 100,000-satellite fleet would vastly overshadow any other current constellation.
• SpaceX is targeting gigabit-level speeds upon full deployment.
• Currently, Starlink maintains a dominant lead over its satellite internet competitors.

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The Quest for Gigabit Space-Internet

If you crave faster connectivity, you'll be interested to know that SpaceX has submitted a request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy 100,000 third-generation (Gen3) Starlink satellites. The goal? To provide symmetrical, multi-gigabit broadband with ultra-low latency.

Currently, while peak advertised speeds hit $300 \text{ to } 400+ \text{ Mbps}$ (downlink), actual user experiences vary. For instance, PCMag's Brian Westover noted that the "Residential Max" plan typically plateaus between 145 Mbps and 170 Mbps for downloads, with uploads hovering just under 40 Mbps.

To put that in perspective, consider this comparison:

For those in rural areas—like Westover in Idaho—Starlink is more than a luxury; it is a vital necessity.

Deep Dive: The Gen3 Filing

SpaceX intends to place the Gen3 system in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), serving as an evolution of the Gen1 and Gen2 fleets.

Logistics and Launch

The Gen3 satellites are massive, weighing over $2,000 \text{ kg}$ (2+ tons). This weight creates a logistical challenge: the standard Falcon 9 cannot carry enough of them per launch to be efficient.

Beyond residential use, SpaceX envisions this network supporting:

1. Enterprise clients.
2. Government agencies.
3. Billions of AI-driven devices.

"This is no AI data center in space, but it s a step in that direction."

Spectrum and Technical Requirements

SpaceX is requesting an expansive range of spectrum to achieve a $\approx 100\times$ increase in total bandwidth.

Requested Frequency Bands:

• Ku-, Ka-, V-, E-, W-, and D-band.
• Downlink: $10.7 \text{ to } 13.4 \text{ GHz}$, $17.3 \text{ to } 21.2 \text{ GHz}$, and $37.5 \text{ to } 42.5 \text{ GHz}$.
• Uplink: Various ranges reaching up to $\approx 231.5 \text{ to } 275 \text{ GHz}$.

To facilitate high-capacity backhaul and massive uplinks, SpaceX is seeking waivers for specific FCC rules, such as Section 2.106, to create larger contiguous channels. While this could potentially interfere with other wireless or satellite services, SpaceX has pledged to coordinate in good faith and operate on a nonprotected, noninterference basis.

Note for Users: To access these gigabit speeds, you will need to upgrade your antennas and user terminals. New hardware is expected to arrive soon.

Market Landscape and Pricing

Currently, Starlink's top residential tier costs $130/month. With the arrival of Gen3, costs will likely climb.

{
  "estimated_gen3_pricing": {
    "conservative_estimate": "$200/month",
    "aggressive_estimate": "$300/month"
  }
}

The Competition

While other players exist, few can match Starlink's current momentum:

• Amazon Leo: Currently preparing for customer delivery.
• Eutelsat-OneWeb: Focused primarily on B2B, not general consumers.
• Upcoming: Telesat Lightspeed and Blue Origin's TeraWave.
• Legacy GEO: Hughesnet and Viasat.

The gap in performance is so wide that Hughesnet recently began referring its own customers to Starlink.

The Road Ahead

The FCC's Space Bureau will now process the application. This includes a period for public commentary where rivals can challenge the plan.

Pending FCC Requirements:

• Public notice and comment period.
• Review of debris mitigation strategies.
• Spectrum coordination and interference checks.
• Final approval/grant of authority.

However, not everyone is on board. The scientific community is sounding the alarm:

"A recent European Southern Observatory study argues that large constellations, specifically Starlink, would have devastating effects on astronomy."