Internet Speed ​​Slows as Starlink User Increases

Download speeds of the Starlink internet service dropped from 90.6 Mbps to 62.5 Mbps in the first and two quarters of 2022, judging by the US-based Ookla speed test reports. Upload speeds decreased from 9.3 Mbps to 7.2 Mbps in the same time period. 

It wasn't just speeds that got worse. Starlink's latency has worsened for customers in the US, increasing from 43ms to 48ms. The latest figures are in the recently published Q2 2022 report by Ookla. “Starlink speeds have decreased in all countries as more users join the service,” the updated report says.

In the second quarter of 2021, about a year ago, it was reported that median download speeds in the US were 97.2 Mbps, upload speeds were 13.9 Mbps, and latency was 45 ms. Starlink says on its website that users will get download speeds between 50 and 200 Mbps, upload speeds between 10 and 20 Mbps, and latency of 20-40 ms.

 Starlink currently has more than 3,000 satellites in orbit. The internet provider wants to put about 12,000 satellites into orbit, including those currently in operation. They have FCC (Federal Communications Commission) clearance for this.

 However, the company is seeking broader powers from the organization to raise this number. Ookla reports are based on user testing as you can imagine. According to the analysis, the main reason for the decrease in Starlink speeds is the increase in the number of users. 

PCMag talked about the problems users are experiencing in its July article. In fact, a Texas user stated that "download speeds drop to 1 Mbps, especially in the evening." For those who don't have a solid cable connection at home, Starlink is still the best option. But the latest data should be enough to see the reaction of Starlink users.