Just a few years ago, satellite internet was synonymous with slow, expensive and unreliable connections, reserved for the most inaccessible corners of the world. Today, in 2026, the situation has changed dramatically. Constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit, primarily Starlink but also OneWeb, Amazon Leo and Chinese projects, are no longer a niche alternative but are becoming a real competitor to terrestrial fibre optic and mobile networks.
Data published in May 2026 by Ookla, a company specialising in network performance measurements, is the best evidence of this. The median download speed of Starlink in 27 European countries increased from 114.05 Mb/s in the first quarter of 2025 to 165.71 Mb/s in the first quarter of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 45 percent. Even more spectacular progress was recorded in Poland, Cyprus and Latvia, where speeds increased by 70 percent, 66 percent and 62 percent respectively. These are no longer speeds that qualify only as „backup” or „emergency” connections. These are speeds that in many locations match, and sometimes exceed, the average speeds offered by traditional fixed-line connections. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, announced as early as 2025 that Starlink would offer gigabit speeds in 2026, and current data shows that this goal is within reach, especially in the business segment, where speeds already exceed 400 Mb/s.
The key technological breakthrough that made this revolution possible was the transition from geostationary satellites, located about 36,000 kilometres from Earth, to satellites in low Earth orbit, located at an altitude of just a few hundred kilometres. This change radically reduced data transmission latency. In the case of traditional GEO satellites, latency (ping) was often over 600 milliseconds, which made it impossible to use many online services smoothly, such as video conferencing or gaming. Today, in the case of Starlink and OneWeb, latency ranges from 20 to 40 milliseconds, which is comparable to traditional terrestrial networks. This opens the door to using satellite internet in a way that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
The increase in speed and the decrease in latency is not only a matter of user satisfaction but above all a paradigm shift in the perception of satellite internet. It is ceasing to be a last-resort solution for digitally excluded areas and is becoming a real alternative to fibre optics even in places where they are available. As McKinsey notes in a February 2026 report, satellites will not replace terrestrial networks, but they will change customer expectations regarding connectivity at the „edges” of fixed and mobile networks, and these boundaries are shifting as LEO capacity scales. This means that in many cases, users who once had no choice can now choose between fibre and satellite, forcing terrestrial operators to compete on price and quality.
The 4 horsemen of space internet
The satellite internet market in 2026 is no longer a monopoly of a single company. Starlink, which surpassed 10 million active subscribers in February 2026 and reached 12 million in June 2026, remains the undisputed leader. SpaceX has permission to deploy up to 15,000 satellites by the end of January 2026 and ultimately plans to send as many as 42,000 into orbit. At the beginning of 2026, the number of active Starlink satellites exceeded 10,000. This is a huge infrastructure that provides coverage in 160 countries and territories. However, it should be noted that the total number of Starlink subscribers is distinct from the number of users of the Direct-to-Device service, which in March 2026 had 10 million active monthly users. The latest reports from July 2026 indicate further changes in the pricing structure, including the introduction of a mandatory antenna fee, showing that the company is dynamically adjusting its pricing strategy to changing market conditions.
The second largest player is OneWeb, owned by the French group Eutelsat. The OneWeb constellation consists of over 600 satellites orbiting at an altitude of 1,200 kilometres in 12 synchronised orbital planes. The company focuses on providing stable connectivity for enterprises, governments and consumers in underserved areas. In January 2026, Airbus received a contract from Eutelsat to build an additional 340 satellites for OneWeb, bringing the total number of satellites ordered to 440. The new satellites will be built on a new production line in Toulouse, with deliveries expected to begin by the end of 2026. This shows that OneWeb is not planning to concede ground to Starlink and is actively expanding its infrastructure.
The third, newest and potentially most dangerous competitor is Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper. In July 2026, Amazon confirmed that it had already launched 396 satellites into orbit for its low-orbit broadband network. The company announced that reaching this threshold is sufficient to begin initial deployment of internet services as early as 2026. The new name, Amazon Leo, was introduced to emphasise the orbital characteristics of the satellites. The company has allocated tens of billions of dollars for rocket reservations to launch its satellites into orbit. Amazon Leo is targeting the mass market, offering competitive speeds and prices, which could significantly impact market dynamics.
In addition, there are Chinese projects. SpaceSail, a Chinese LEO company, began offering satellite internet services in Brazil in the first half of 2026. The company plans to operate in Brazil with up to 324 satellites. In addition, China is developing the Guowang project, which as of mid-2026 has approximately 190 satellites in orbit, with plans to reach 310 by the end of the year, although precise data on this constellation is difficult to verify given the limited transparency of the Chinese space programme. The presence of Chinese players in the market demonstrates the global nature of the race for space internet.
Europe is not lagging behind
The European Union, recognising the strategic importance of independent satellite infrastructure, is implementing the IRIS² project – a multi-orbit satellite constellation designed to provide secure government connectivity and high-speed broadband internet in digitally excluded areas. In July 2026, Poland committed to contributing 656 million euros (approximately 748 million dollars) to this project, representing nearly 10 percent of the constellation’s total budget. The agreement was signed in Warsaw, and Poland joined the group of key partners in the European programme for building secure satellite connectivity. Cooperation under IRIS² also includes the development of the LEO segment of the constellation in partnership with Eutelsat. This shows that Europe, like the US and China, treats access to space internet as a matter of security and technological sovereignty.
At the same time, Poland is increasing its contribution to the European Space Agency’s budget to 731 million euros in 2026-2028. This is a clear signal that Poland wants to be an active player in the space revolution, not only as a user but also as a co-creator of new technologies. Participation in projects such as IRIS² gives Polish companies access to advanced technologies and the opportunity to participate in the global supply chain for the satellite sector. For Polish users, this means future access to fast and secure satellite internet, independent of external suppliers.
The next step in the evolution of satellite internet is Direct-to-Device services, which enable connecting to satellites directly using standard mobile phones. According to Deloitte, D2D revenues in 2026 could range from 6 to 8 billion dollars, and there will be more than 1,000 satellites in orbit capable of providing such services. Starlink V2 already has 10 million active monthly users of the D2D service and expects to reach 25 million by the end of 2026. This shows that the demand for direct satellite connectivity is huge, especially in areas with poor mobile network coverage.
During the MWC trade fair in Barcelona in 2026, Starlink presented its plans for a satellite 5G network. The new generation of Starlink satellites will be equipped with integrated 5G antennas, enabling services to be provided directly to mobile phones. The partnership with Deutsche Telekom is set to cover 140 million customers in 10 European countries. Operators such as Vodafone have also signed agreements with Amazon Leo to use satellites to connect 4G/5G base stations in hard-to-reach areas. Orange plans to conduct satellite connectivity tests in Romania in the second half of 2026. This means that the boundary between terrestrial and satellite internet is beginning to blur, and users will soon be able to use hybrid solutions that combine the advantages of both technologies.
Prices and availability. Is satellite internet for everyone?
Despite impressive technological progress, satellite internet prices remain higher than traditional fixed-line connections. In Poland, in January 2026, Starlink offered a package with a 100 GB limit for 175 zlotys per month and an unlimited package for 430 zlotys. By comparison, the average price of fibre optic internet in Poland is around 80-120 zlotys per month. The difference is significant, although it is decreasing with technological development and increasing competition. In Germany, in May 2026, Starlink raised its package prices: for the 200 Mb/s package, customers pay 55 euros instead of 49 euros, and the fastest package for individual customers costs 75 euros instead of 69 euros per month. In Greece, in July 2026, cheaper packages were introduced, starting from 35 euros for 100 Mb/s. Prices therefore vary depending on the region and competition in each market.
Equipment costs are also falling. Starlink offers starter kits from 286 euros, and in some countries prices are even lower. By comparison, traditional GEO satellite connections, offered by companies such as Viasat or Eutelsat, often require more expensive equipment and long-term contracts. Nevertheless, satellite internet remains more expensive than fibre optics, especially in cities where competition between terrestrial operators is greatest. However, for rural and remote areas where fibre is unavailable or very expensive, satellite internet is becoming an increasingly competitive option. In 2025, the number of satellite internet access connections in Poland increased to 54,300, representing a year-on-year increase of 73 percent.
The future of the market. Satellites as a complement, not a replacement
Despite dynamic growth, experts agree that satellites will not completely replace terrestrial internet networks, at least in the near future. As Cerillion notes in a January 2026 report, satellites will not be a mass alternative to broadband internet in 2026. The hype around LEO peaked in 2025, but the reality is that satellites excel at filling gaps where terrestrial networks do not reach and at raising customer expectations at the „edges” of networks. This means that the future of the internet market will be hybrid – combining fibre optics, 5G networks and LEO satellites into a single, coherent whole.
The global satellite internet market is valued at 9.29 billion dollars in 2025 and is expected to grow to 10.50 billion dollars in 2026, reaching 25.01 billion dollars by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 15.20 percent. Other forecasts are even more optimistic, indicating a market value of 13.16 billion dollars in 2025 and 45.58 billion dollars by 2033. Regardless of the specific numbers, the trend is clear: satellite internet is ceasing to be a niche and is becoming one of the main pillars of global connectivity, which will forever change the way people around the world use the internet.
Photo: Pixabay
