SpaceX has announced significant progress in reducing latency for its Starlink satellite internet service. In the US, median latency during peak usage hours has dropped by over 30%, from 48.5ms to 33ms. Even more impressive, worst-case peak hour latency has decreased by over 60%, now below 65ms. International Starlink users also see improvements with up to 25% median latency reduction and up to a 35% decrease in worst-case latency.
These changes make Starlink a more viable option for activities that require quick responses, such as online gaming and video calls. SpaceX attributes the improvements to new algorithms, “active queue management”, and a focus on eliminating any software-induced delays.
The company emphasizes this is just the beginning. They plan to continue optimizing software, expanding ground infrastructure, and launching additional satellites to drive latency even lower. Their ultimate goal is to achieve latency rates below 20 milliseconds.
With over 2.6 million global subscribers, Starlink is rapidly expanding while also improving service quality.
