SpaceX’s Starlink aims to offer gigabit internet speeds by 2026, but CEO Elon Musk is indicating that mass deployment of the necessary satellites won’t happen until Q4.
V3 Starlink satellites are designed to deliver major performance upgrades to the satellite internet system. They should launch “at scale around Q4 next year,” Musk tweeted on Wednesday.
It’s possible the V3 could make an appearance earlier in 2026. In June, Musk also mentioned the first V3 units would start launching “in 6 to 9 months,” which makes us wonder if SpaceX will try to fly them in Q1.
An earlier image SpaceX posted showing Starship deploying V3 sats. (Credit: SpaceX)
Of course, SpaceX’s predictions can be shaky. Musk originally said there was a “good chance” the V3 satellites would launch in 2024. ln 2021, the company even mentioned one day supplying a staggering 10Gbps in speeds in an FCC presentation. In contrast, current Starlink speeds usually range from 100Mbps to over 300Mbps.
To launch its next-generation satellites, SpaceX is banking on its Starship vehicle, a more powerful rocket that remains in development. This past year, Starship completed several successful test flights, including the deployment of dummy Starlink satellites into space. Still, the rocket has faced its fair share of setbacks and snafus as the company moves to testing version 3 of the giant rocket.
The big question is whether the vehicle can reach new milestones in 2026, paving the way for commercial launches and missions to the Moon. Another hurdle is securing FCC approval for the V3 satellites. In the meantime, Musk has been focused on another major project: Developing space-based data centers. “SpaceX has way more satellites in orbit than the rest of the world combined, so maybe we know a thing or two about the subject,” Musk tweeted.
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He then added it wouldn’t be hard for his company to convert the V3 into satellites carrying AI GPUs dedicated to receiving as much as 150 kilowatts in solar energy. “An AI satellite is easier, not harder, than the Starlink V3 design,” he wrote.
In addition, Musk indicated that SpaceX’s rumored initial public offering is intended to generate funding for space-based data centers. In another tweet, he confirmed that Ars Technica’s reporting about the topic was “accurate.”
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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