SpaceX expands Starlink with mobile service plans and satellite launches

SpaceX is aggressively expanding its Starlink constellation and business model. On August 8, 2026, the company launched 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to enhance its growing global internet network, which currently includes an estimated 10,920 active satellites in orbit.

Beyond broadband, SpaceX is pivoting toward the mobile communications market with 'Starlink Mobile.' During a recent earnings call, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell announced plans for a commercial mobile service rollout by late 2027. This initiative aims to challenge major U.S. carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile by providing direct-to-device connectivity through next-generation satellites. The strategy includes both satellite-based services and a terrestrial component, utilizing acquired spectrum to provide broadband directly to mobile phones for tasks like video calls and streaming.

In its first earnings call as a public company, Elon Musk indicated that Starlink could deliver a majority of the world's internet within a decade. The company also shared updates regarding its Starship program, with Musk stating the heat shield problem is largely "solved."