Starlink Deploys 5,000th Satellite, Achieving Global 'Near-Ubiquity'
| SpaceX achieves a major milestone in its low-Earth orbit constellation, significantly improving coverage in challenging high-latitude regions.
Reaching the 5K Mark
SpaceX confirmed this week that its Starlink constellation, operating in low-Earth orbit (LEO), has surpassed 5,000 operational satellites. This milestone marks a critical turning point for the service, pushing it into a new phase of global coverage which the company terms ‘near-ubiquity.’
The latest deployment batches focused specifically on increasing density and orbital inclination over previously underserved high-latitude regions, including Alaska, Greenland, and the northern territories of Canada and Russia.
“The added density is key not just for coverage, but for minimizing latency during peak usage times,” said a Starlink representative in a press briefing. “Our real-world testing shows latency dropping below 30ms in most central and western European regions.”
Regulatory Friction Continues
While the technical success is undeniable, Starlink continues to navigate complex international regulatory waters. Several European and Asian nations have raised concerns regarding spectrum allocation and orbital debris, prompting new international discussions at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) regarding mega-constellation governance.