The rapidly evolving internet landscape is witnessing a dramatic escalation in speed and competition. Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has already shaken up the global internet market with its satellite-based internet service, has announced plans for a significant upgrade, promising download speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second (Gbps).
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed the upcoming Starlink upgrade at the Annual Baron Investment Conference.
“Next generation, we’ll have smaller beams, more capacity per beam, lower latency,” she explained.
Shotwell highlighted the rapid advancement of SpaceX’s satellite technology, comparing its capacity increase to Moore’s Law: “The cycle of the increased capacity is basically on the same cycle as chipsets, which is like double the capability every two years,” she stated.
“If you just had multiple dishes, you could get gigabit per second speed. And what we’ll do is, instead of people having multiple dishes, we’ll just improve the satellite signal and the receive signal, and you’ll have gigabit, two gigabit per second speeds,” she said, adding that Starlink is nearing 5 million global users.
This ambitious speed target has been a Starlink goal since at least 2016, but recent developments have accelerated progress. The successful test flight of Starship, SpaceX’s next-generation spacecraft, plays a crucial role. While designed for lunar and Martian missions, Starship will also transport heavier, more powerful Starlink satellites into orbit.
Shotwell expressed confidence in Starship’s future deployment: “I would not be surprised if we fly 400 Starship launches in the next four years… We want to fly it a lot. I have a lot of satellites to fly.”
It remains unclear whether users will require new Starlink hardware to access these faster speeds. However, SpaceX has petitioned the FCC for permission to utilise additional radio bands for data transmission and proposed placing satellites closer to Earth, with plans to operate almost 30,000 satellites – a significant increase from the current 6,600.
Meanwhile, Liquid Home’s introduction of gigabit internet service on Black Friday represents a bold strategic move within Zimbabwe’s increasingly competitive internet market. Their Infinity 169 plan, priced at USD 169 per month, now offers speeds up to 1 Gbps, while their Family Entertainment package, costing USD 210 (ZWL 5,549), has been upgraded from 100 Mbps to 300 Mbps.
This announcement comes as a direct response to Starlink’s disruption of the local market. Starlink’s competitive pricing and reliable speeds forced local providers like Liquid Home, Econet, TelOne, and Utande to adapt, resulting in price reductions and speed improvements across the board. Starlink’s impact has been particularly felt among high-value clients, many of whom switched from expensive fibre or VSAT services due to Starlink’s speed and reliability. While initial reports of slower speeds in Harare existed, these issues have largely been resolved, with users now regularly experiencing speeds exceeding 100 Mbps during peak hours. However, Starlink’s current technology caps speeds below 1 Gbps, leaving Liquid Home with a significant competitive advantage with its gigabit offering.
Liquid Home’s gigabit launch is not merely a promotional Black Friday event; it’s a strategic countermove to Starlink’s growing popularity. With reports suggesting Starlink’s business packages are reaching capacity in Harare, local providers face increasing pressure to innovate and retain customers. By offering speeds ten times faster than Starlink’s typical service, Liquid Home directly targets power users who might otherwise be tempted by satellite internet.
The arrival of Starlink has fundamentally altered Zimbabwe’s internet landscape. For years, local internet service providers resisted calls for faster speeds and lower prices, citing economic constraints. Starlink’s success has proven these claims unfounded, sparking a wave of innovation and competition that benefits Zimbabwean consumers. The battle for internet supremacy in Zimbabwe is far from over, with both Starlink and Liquid Home poised to continue pushing the boundaries of speed and affordability.
