Musk Says Orbital Laser Network Could Rival Undersea Cables

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said a future orbital laser network could rival undersea cables, describing a configuration with more than 100,000 satellites and high-capacity links.

During a Nov. 6 conversation with Ron Baron of Baron Capital, Musk said Starlink version 4 satellites would have 10 times the capability of version 3. He said the next-generation laser links would operate at 10 terabits per second.

In a separate post that day, Musk outlined a larger orbital network configuration: about 100 lasers per satellite, each operating above 10 terabits per second, across more than 100,000 satellites. He wrote that it “should be able to outcompete undersea cables.”

Musk argued that signals travel about 40% faster through space than through cables. He also said orbital routes can be more direct, while cables follow the outlines of land masses.

SpaceX has deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites during the Starship Flight 14 orbital test.