SpaceX Starlink Delivers 300% Speed Gain Over HughesNet!

A stack of Starlink satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) before deploying.

Earlier this week, SpaceX finally got the ball rolling for its Starlink satellite-based internet service when it emailed those who had signed up for the service that it was ready to roll out beta, first-phase connections. SpaceX's email, though short in words, consisted of key details for Starlink's performance; details that help in drafting an early-stage comparison of the service with its terrestrial and satellite-based competitors.

Our brief comparison showed that when it came to latency (the time it takes for a packet of information to travel back and forth between terminals), Starlink was miles ahead of other satellite service providers. More importantly, the email also highlighted SpaceX's plans to bring Starlink speeds at par with what terrestrial providers were offering in the United States; a big promise as it naturally allows the service to gain a serious leg-up over other satellite internet providers.