Policyband

Starlink Adds 1 Million Subs in Just 47 Days, Rockets Past 9 Million Globally

To what extent is Starlink's rapid growth making Capitol Hill lawmakers think about whether the $8.5 billion Universal Service Fund and the $42.45 billion BEAD program are becoming obsolete?

Ted Hearn

Dec 24, 2025 — 10 min read

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Starlink: Crushing it. Is there another way of describing Starlink, a satellite-delivered Internet service that is growing so fast, it is becoming a plausible substitute for the $42.45 BEAD program and potentially for the FCC’s $8.5 billion annual Universal Service Program as well? Elon Musk’s Starlink just reported that it added 1 million new customers globally in only the past 47 days. BEAD hasn’t added a single broadband subscriber in more than four years. The subscriber news vaulted Starlink over the 9 million level across 155 countries, territories and other subdivisions. At least 2 million are believed to be domiciled in the U.S. Starlink’s performance is leaving rival Amazon Leo in the dust. Starlink has 9,399 operational LEOs according to Jonathan’s Space Report. (More after paywall.)