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SpaceX's New V3 Starlink Satellites Bring Gigabit Internet Speeds for the First Time

The new massive Starlink satellites promise big boosts in internet speed.

Headshot of Tyler Lacoma
Headshot of Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security and Smart Home
Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks, and top recommendations. With degrees in Business Management, Literature and Technical Writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading, or gaming with good friends.
Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V
Tyler Lacoma
2 min read
Starlink's three versions of satellites compared in size.

Starlink's biggest satellite will introduce new internet speeds.

 SpaceX

Following the splashdown of SpaceX Starship's 11th flight test, SpaceX announced the V3 phase of its Starlink program, now with vastly larger, more powerful satellites. V3 will be offering gigabit internet connectivity to Starlink users for the first time, some of the most powerful off-the-grid support we've seen. 

When announcing the V3 satellite, Starlink mentioned that it's also designed to provide 60 Terabits per second of downlink capacity to its network, more than 20x the capacity of every V2 Mini launch on its older Falcon 9 rocket. 

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Locating local internet providers

There's still no word on exactly when we can expect these V3 satellites to launch and start providing boosted internet speeds. Since they're well over 4,000 pounds, it may take the SpaceX team additional work to find the best way to launch these upgraded satellites.

Though Starlink's current lineup is expensive (see our full review here), it provides internet in places where there's simply no other way to get it. Still, Starlink struggles with nighttime sky pollution. 

Locating local internet providers

Our resident Starlink expert at CNET, principal writer Joe Supan, recently tried the Starlink Mini, which is small enough to take on a hiking trip and can get you camping internet anywhere, as long as there's not a lot of trees. 

Now, we're wondering how V3 Starlink may improve the average 127Mbps download speeds we found during testing and if that will mean a hike in subscription prices as well. Starlink is currently charging $165 per month for unlimited data connections.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Â