Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides satellite broadband internet connection. In 2022, the company reported revenues of $1.4 billion, an increase of approximately $222 million compared to the previous year. This is a positive development for Starlink, as the company had previously aimed to generate annual revenues of at least $12 billion and achieve an operating profit of $7 billion in 2022.

Currently, Starlink has around 5,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. This number is expected to grow next year, allowing the company to expand its services in Africa, Asia, and South America. Starlink’s goal is to have at least 12,000 satellites for its services in the future. The company already has over 2 million customers in 60 countries, including the Czech Republic.

Starlink offers high-speed internet with download speeds exceeding 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. The latency is around 30 ms. The satellite internet connection primarily targets remote and rural areas where high-speed connectivity is not available. To access Starlink’s services, customers need equipment that costs around CZK 12,000 and a monthly subscription of CZK 1,400.

While Starlink has gained significant traction in the market, it now faces new competition from Amazon’s Kuiper project. Amazon recently launched the first prototypes of its satellites into space with plans to provide global internet coverage. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, intends to deploy a total of 3,236 satellites under Blue Origin, Amazon’s space company. However, the current prototypes are still being tuned, and the satellites are expected to begin transmitting internet signals in early next year.

Despite facing competition, Starlink’s increasing revenues underline its growing presence in the satellite broadband market. With its expansion plans and growing customer base, the company is poised for further success in the coming years.