Ookla speed test data from late 2025 through 2026 outlines Starlink performance and adoption trends in the US, including median download speeds of 119.7 Mbps, a 42% increase in upload speeds, and a 73% year-over-year surge in urban user growth.
Development in urban areas
One notable change is Starlink’s rapid penetration into urban areas. In the first half of 2026, users in cities increased by 73% compared to the previous year. This trend was more pronounced in urban areas compared to rural areas, with the only exceptions being Alaska and Hawaii.
Speeds and performance
Based on measurements from the end of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026, the median Starlink download speed in the US was 119.7 Mbps. At the same time, upload speeds improved, increasing by 42% year-over-year, from 14.63 Mbps to 20.73 Mbps.
Subscribers and pricing
According to Deutsche Bank estimates, Starlink now has about 4,1 million subscribers in the US, while the number of users worldwide reached 13,6 million in the third quarter of 2026. The company has made changes to its pricing policy, increasing fees for some plans by $5 to $10 in May 2026, while starting the implementation of dynamic pricing for existing users in November of the same year. At the same time, SpaceX plans to release the second generation of Starlink Mini equipment in December 2026.
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