Starlink promises faster next-generation satellites next year

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 16 July 2025

Starlink is promising even better performance as part of its next stage of development, as it claims it has significantly improved download speeds and reduced peak-hour latency.

Starlink plans to add further capacity to its satellite network with the launch of new satellites in 2026. The third generation of its satellites is designed to provide over 1,000Gbps (1Tbps) of download capacity and over 200Gbps of uplink capacity to customers. This is 10 times the downlink capacity and 24 times the uplink capacity of the second-generation satellites.

Each third-generation satellite is expected to add 60Tbps of capacity, more than 20 times what each regular launch currently adds. These third-generation satellites will use SpaceX’s next-generation technologies and operate at lower altitudes with the aim of improving the network’s latency.

These second-generation satellites currently provide over 5,000Gbps (5Tbps) of capacity per week, which is four times more than the original satellites. It added 2,300 additional second-generation satellites to its constellation in the past year, which have added almost 450Tbps of capacity.

In addition, Starlink say it aims to eventually drive latency down to a stable 20 milliseconds with minimal packet loss. This is being done through upgrades to its satellite gateways on the ground, however, rather than with new in-orbit tech.

The satellite internet provider also says its median peak-hour download speeds in the United States now sit at around 200Mbps, while median peak-hour latency in the US is down to 25.7 milliseconds as of July 2025.

At the start of 2024, Starlink's median peak-hour download speeds in the US were around 80Mbps, while median peak-hour latency was around 30ms.

Latency is the time it takes for the data packet to travel from your devices to the Starlink satellite and back. Starlink's lower latency is one of its advantages compared to NBN Co's Sky Muster satellite system, with the ACCC finding Starlink regularly reports much lower latency.

The latest report saw Starlink units in Australia with perform with a latency averaging 31.6ms during all hours and 33ms during busy hours, while Satellite NBN came in at 665.8ms for all hours and 673ms for busy hours.

Starlink's speeds are also measured; the latest report recorded an average download speed of 170.2Mbps during busy hours and 197.9Mbps during all hours.

You can compare Starlink's Residential and Roam service plans here:

#1	Starlink	Starlink Starlink Residential 100 Mbps Satellite Download Speeds: Up to 100 Mbps (typically 80-100 Mbps) Upload Speeds: 15-35 Mbps Unlimited Data $75/mth Min. cost $75 Go to Site	$75/mth Min. cost $75	Go to Site
#2	Starlink	Starlink Starlink Roam 100GB Satellite Download: 65-260Mbps, Upload: 15-35Mbps 100GB Data $85/mth + $289 Upfront Min. cost $374 Go to Site	$85/mth + $289 Upfront Min. cost $374	Go to Site
#3	Starlink	Starlink Starlink Residential 200 Mbps Satellite Download Speeds: Up to 200 Mbps (typically 140-200 Mbps) Upload Speeds: 15-35 Mbps Unlimited Data $110/mth Min. cost $110 Go to Site	$110/mth Min. cost $110	Go to Site
#4	Starlink	Starlink Starlink Residential Max Satellite Download Speeds: Up to 400+ Mbps (typically 170-320 Mbps) Upload Speeds: 20-40 Mbps Unlimited Data $150/mth Min. cost $150 Go to Site	$150/mth Min. cost $150	Go to Site
#5	Starlink	Starlink Starlink Roam Unlimited Satellite Download: 65-260Mbps, Upload: 15-35Mbps Unlimited Data $210/mth + $289 Upfront Min. cost $499 Go to Site	$210/mth + $289 Upfront Min. cost $499	Go to Site

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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