In a rare disruption to its global satellite internet service, SpaceX’s Starlink experienced a major worldwide outage on Thursday, affecting tens of thousands of users across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. The issue, which lasted approximately 2.5 hours, was later confirmed to be caused by an internal software failure, according to SpaceX officials.
What Happened During the Starlink Outage?
Reports began to surge around 3 PM EDT (1900 GMT), as thousands of users noticed their Starlink internet connection was down. According to Downdetector, over 61,000 outage reports were submitted at the height of the issue.
“The outage was due to failure of key internal software services that operate the core network,” said Michael Nicolls, Vice President of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX.
Who Was Affected?
The Starlink outage disrupted services across:
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United States
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Canada
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Europe
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Australia
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New Zealand
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And reportedly in Ukraine, where the service is used for military communications
In Ukraine, the internet blackout impacted combat operations. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, confirmed that Starlink was down across the entire front line, raising concerns about national security and military coordination during wartime.
Elon Musk Apologizes for Disruption
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologize to the company’s over 6 million global users:
“Sorry for the outage. SpaceX will remedy the root cause to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Musk wrote.
SpaceX emphasized its commitment to network reliability, saying it is working to identify and prevent similar failures in the future.
Software Glitch or Cyberattack?
While the official reason cited was a software issue, experts aren’t ruling out other possibilities.
“This could be a software update gone wrong, or even a cyberattack,” speculated Gregory Falco, director of a cybersecurity lab at Cornell University.
This mirrors concerns raised last year during the CrowdStrike-Windows outage, which disrupted operations globally after a faulty update impacted over 8.5 million Windows devices.
Starlink’s Growing Importance
Starlink has become a critical infrastructure in more than 140 countries, particularly in rural areas where traditional broadband access is limited. Since 2020, SpaceX has launched over 8,000 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, offering high-speed internet across the globe.
In partnership with T-Mobile, Starlink recently began rolling out direct-to-cell services that allow users to send emergency text messages even in dead zones.
Recovery in Progress, But Some Still Facing Issues
While most users regained access by Thursday night, some customers in Italy, the U.S., and Canada continue to report connection issues. Others have resorted to factory reboots or reinstallation of their Starlink kits in attempts to restore service.
“We’re still facing connection problems,” said a Starlink user in Southern Italy via Reddit. “It’s unclear whether the problem is on our end or with Starlink.”
What About Starshield and Military Services?
It remains unclear if Starlink’s military division, Starshield, which supports U.S. defense and intelligence operations, was also affected. Given its significance and billion-dollar contracts with the Pentagon, experts are closely watching the investigation into the cause.
Key Takeaways
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Outage Duration: ~2.5 hours
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Root Cause: Failure in internal software systems
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Users Affected: Over 61,000 reports worldwide
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Starlink Service Status: Mostly restored; some users still offline
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Next Steps: SpaceX promises full investigation and permanent fix
Why This Matters
With over 6 million users globally, Starlink is no longer just an optional internet service—it’s mission-critical for both civilians and militaries. This outage highlights the need for robust safeguards in satellite-based internet infrastructure, especially as SpaceX expands into mobile and emergency communication sectors.
Stay tuned as we track updates on this developing story.