What's the long-term vision for Starlink?

Q1175 answers2015-2026
Short answer

Launching satellites taps out around $3 billion a year; providing broadband is more like an order of magnitude more, roughly $30 billion. Starlink will serve the 3–4% hardest-to-reach customers for telcos, not compete in high-density 5G cities.

From his 2020-03 answer in SATELLITE 2020 Keynote. Summary is ours; see the quotes below.

All 5 answers, oldest to newest

🎙 Interview · 2015-07 · ISS R&D Conference · asked by Mike Suffredini (moderator) / audience · watch at 47:13 · transcript ·
The long-term goal is a comprehensive global communications system with high bandwidth and low latency anywhere in the world, with satellite cross-links, because photons move 40–50% faster in vacuum than in fiber.
"create a comprehensive global communication system that provides high bandwidth, low latency connectivity anywhere in the world"
𝕏 post · 2018-02-21 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Says if the test satellites succeed, Starlink will serve the least served.
"Today’s Falcon launch carries 2 SpaceX test satellites for global broadband. If successful, Starlink constellation will serve least served."
🎙 Interview · 2019-06 · E3 Coliseum · asked by Todd Howard / E3 Coliseum moderator · watch at 34:37 · transcript ·
He said one of the criteria for Starlink is that it is important for real-time gaming, and later second-generation constellations are aiming further. This would be really great for any kind of real-time gaming, anywhere on Earth.
"STARLINK, important for real-time gaming"
🎙 Interview · 2020-03 · SATELLITE 2020 Keynote · asked by Jeffrey Hill (SATELLITE 2020) · watch at 15:25 · transcript ·
Launching satellites taps out around $3 billion a year; providing broadband is more like an order of magnitude more, roughly $30 billion. Starlink will serve the 3–4% hardest-to-reach customers for telcos, not compete in high-density 5G cities.
"StarLink will effectively serve the I don't know three or four percent hardest to reach customers"
𝕏 post · 2026-05-24 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Says there will eventually be over 100k Starlink satellites, and that Starlink may one day carry most Internet traffic, at which point "it is the Internet".
"If growth continues, Starlink will one day carry the majority of Internet traffic. At that point, it is the Internet and everything else just connects to Starlink."

Last updated: 2026-05-24 (newest answer).

Spotted a mistake? Report it: tell us on X (@ElonsFAQ). Please mention Q117.

Related questions

More in StarlinkAll topics