Recent satellite deployments have notably improved Starlink’s performance across Europe, strengthening its position as a viable broadband alternative in the region.
Although Europe is not the largest market for satellite internet—especially compared with regions that have lower fibre penetration and more dispersed populations—low Earth orbit (LEO) networks are becoming an essential part of the connectivity mix.
SpaceX’s Starlink leads this LEO shift worldwide. With a constellation of more than 7,000 satellites, it now delivers broader coverage and increased capacity, making satellite broadband more accessible to both residential and commercial users.
Rising demand for high-speed, low-latency internet has appeared even in dense urban areas. In London, for example, Starlink reached local capacity and sold out, prompting SpaceX to respond rapidly. The company has increased ground station density and accelerated its satellite launch cadence through the second half of 2024 to boost coverage and network performance.
With fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) rolling out quickly across Europe, the key question is whether Starlink can keep its competitive edge. Below, we examine how SpaceX’s latest investments have improved speeds, lowered latency, and positioned Starlink within Europe’s changing broadband landscape.
Latency improvements: Starlink in Europe
Latency—the time data takes to travel between a user and the network—has long been a limitation for satellite internet. Traditional terrestrial broadband uses underground cables, whereas satellite services must relay signals between Earth and space, which historically introduced higher delays.
Starlink’s LEO architecture has dramatically reduced these delays. Over the past two years, median latency across many European markets has fallen substantially, narrowing the gap with terrestrial broadband. In Q4 2024, some of the lowest median latencies recorded in Europe included:
- United Kingdom – 41 ms
- Belgium – 46 ms
- Luxembourg – 46 ms
- Ireland – 47 ms
Lower latency directly improves user experience for video streaming, online gaming, and web browsing, enabling faster load times and more responsive interactions.
SpaceX has expanded its European network specifically to address latency: strengthening inter-satellite links, increasing the number of ground stations, and optimising data routing to minimise signal travel distance.
Although fixed-line broadband generally still delivers lower latency, Starlink is closing the gap more quickly than many terrestrial networks have improved. A few locations continue to experience high latency—Cyprus (144 ms) and Malta (106 ms) were among the highest—most likely because of a shortage of nearby ground stations and greater dependence on inter-satellite relays.
Download speeds: growing network demand
While latency has improved steadily, download speeds have fluctuated as Starlink’s subscriber base has expanded. Between Q4 2022 and Q4 2023, rising demand contributed to speed declines in parts of Central Europe. Germany saw median download speeds fall by around 31%, and Switzerland declined about 24% during that period.
By Q4 2024, however, these trends largely reversed. Notable speed improvements were reported in several markets, including:
- Croatia – approximately 70% increase
- Greece – approximately 65% increase
- Germany – 18% increase
- Switzerland – 11% increase
These gains coincided with SpaceX’s aggressive capacity expansion, adding more active satellites in late 2024. The additional capacity appears to have stabilised network performance, particularly in Southern Europe where Starlink is emerging as a top-performing broadband choice.
That said, Starlink’s download speed advantage is under pressure in markets where fibre broadband deployment is accelerating. In Q4 2024, LEO broadband still outperformed terrestrial broadband in some countries—such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Estonia—where FTTH coverage remains below the EU average. As fibre adoption continues to expand, sustaining a consistent speed advantage will become increasingly challenging for Starlink.
Where Starlink holds strong: rural markets and fibre gaps
Starlink adoption across Europe varies widely and correlates closely with the availability of fixed high-speed broadband. In highly urbanised areas like the Nordics and Benelux, adoption is relatively low because fibre networks and fixed wireless access (FWA) alternatives are widespread and competitive.
In contrast, Central and Southern European markets—where fibre rollout trails the EU average—have shown stronger Starlink uptake. Countries such as Germany, Greece, and Croatia have seen higher adoption rates, as Starlink often outperforms local broadband options in either speed or availability.
Germany is a notable example: despite its large economy, fibre coverage remains limited and consumer broadband prices are among the highest in the EU. This environment has made Starlink an attractive alternative for many households and businesses, even though speeds in Germany may be lower than in other regions.
Beyond consumer applications, Starlink has also become useful for specialised commercial and temporary deployments. In London, for instance, businesses use Starlink to support card payment terminals and pop-up or temporary network needs where rapid, reliable connectivity is required.
The next phase: Starlink’s push into direct-to-device (D2D) services
SpaceX is expanding Starlink’s scope beyond home broadband into direct-to-device (D2D) services, enabling smartphones and other mobile devices to connect directly to satellites without extra hardware.
This shift is driven by next-generation Gen2 satellites that SpaceX plans to deploy at scale over the coming years. If successful, D2D services could disrupt the mobile market by providing connectivity where cellular coverage is weak or absent, extending basic connectivity to remote and underserved areas.
Competition in the LEO sector is intensifying. Amazon’s Project Kuiper plans to launch over 1,000 satellites by mid-2026, while AST SpaceMobile is also pursuing D2D solutions with plans for a growing constellation. How Starlink adapts to this increased competition will shape its long-term position in the satellite broadband market.
Note: This article focuses on observed performance trends and infrastructure developments without introducing external claims beyond available network data and reported deployments.