A Multifaceted Look at Starlink Performance
Nitinder Mohan∗ Technical University of Munich Germany
Andrew E. Ferguson∗ The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
Hendrik Cech∗ Technical University of Munich Germany
Rohan Bose Technical University of Munich Germany
Prakita Rayyan Renatin Technical University of Munich Germany
Mahesh K. Marina The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
Jörg Ott Technical University of Munich Germany
ABSTRACT
In recent years, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations have
ushered in a new era for ubiquitous Internet access. The Starlink
network from SpaceX stands out as the only commercial LEO network
with over 2M+ customers and more than 4000 operational satellites.
In this paper, we conduct a first-of-its-kind extensive
multi-faceted analysis of Starlink performance leveraging several
measurement sources. First, based on 19.2M crowdsourced M-Lab speed
tests from 34 countries since 2021, we analyze Starlink global
performance relative to terrestrial cellular networks. Second, we
examine Starlink’s ability to support real-time latency and
bandwidth-critical applications by analyzing the performance of (i)
Zoom conferencing, and (ii) Luna cloud gaming, comparing it to 5G
and fiber. Third, we perform measurements from Starlink-enabled RIPE
Atlas probes to shed light on the last-mile access and other factors
affecting its performance. Finally, we conduct controlled
experiments from Starlink dishes in two countries and analyze the
impact of globally synchronized “15-second reconfiguration
intervals” of the satellite links that cause substantial latency
and throughput variations. Our unique analysis paints the most
comprehensive picture of Starlink’s global and last-mile
performance to date.
1 INTRODUCTION
Over the past two decades, the Internet’s reach has grown rapidly,
driven by innovations and investments in wireless access [22, 46,
47] (both cellular and WiFi) and fiber backhaul deployment that has
interconnected the globe [3, 8, 10, 24, 77]. Yet, the emergence of
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networking, spearheaded by ventures
like Starlink [65], OneWeb [49], and Kuiper [4], is poised to
revolutionize global connectivity. LEO networks consist of
megaconstellations with thousands of satellites orbiting at
300–2000 km altitudes, promising ubiquitous low latency coverage
worldwide. Consequently, these networks are morphing into “global
ISPs” capable of challenging existing Internet monopolies [66],
bridging connectivity gaps in remote regions [36, 69], and providing
support in disaster-struck regions with impaired terrestrial
infrastructure [21]...
