Featured Image Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty
Elon Musk is pushing the world into a new technological era, as the world’s richest man makes another major move with his network of Starlink satellites.
SpaceX first launched Starlink satellites in 2019, and as of October 2025, it’s said that 8,811 Starlink satellites are currently in orbit, with an impressive 8,795 considered operational.
We’d take that with something of a grain of salt, as there have been shocking reports about Starlink satellites supposedly dropping out of the sky while also contributing to the concerning Kessler syndrome.
Elon Musk’s modus operandi with Starlink is to bring high-speed internet and cell connectivity to anywhere in the world via an impressive network of satellites.
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This obviously comes at a price, with American citizens shocked at how much it would cost them to add Starlink capabilities ot their current mobile phone plans.
Now, the United Kingdom's 69 million residents can make the most of Starlink, as Virgin Media O2 gets the honor of being the first UK network to offer Starlink to its customers.
The 'landmark' partnership between the network and Starlink's Direct to Cell vows to bring more coverage than ever to rural parts of the country.
It pulls Starlink to the forefront of the industry as the world's largest satellite-to-mobile constellation, with the new O2 Satellite service offering messaging and data services, alongside grand plans to keep expanding for various handsets.
Lutz Schuler, chief executive of Virgin Media O2, cheered the innovation, saying: "This UK-first partnership is another example of Virgin Media O2 innovating to provide a better experience and peace of mind for our customers on top of the £700 million we are already investing in our mobile network this year."
Impressively, Musk now controls two-thirds of the total number of satellites in space, recently celebrating the launch of Starlink’s 10,000th.
Promoting Starlink's position, Schuler added: "Starlink is a clear leader in this space, operating the world's most advanced satellite constellation, which makes it the right partner to complement our existing coverage and support Virgin Media O2's ambition to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK."
Starlink Direct to Cell will be the first satellite-to-mobile service in the UK starting early 2026.
— Starlink (@Starlink) October 30, 2025
The launch will enable data and messaging connectivity, underscoring our continued efforts to end mobile dead zones around the world. https://t.co/WNZnXBNztW
The news was also welcomed by Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd, who concluded: "This partnership demonstrates exactly how private sector innovation can deliver real benefits for people across the UK, supporting our mission to drive growth and ensure no community is left behind.
Whether you're running a farm in Cumbria or hiking in the Cairngorms, you'll soon have the peace of mind that comes with reliable coverage."
That isn't to say that Starlink has the market locked down, as OneWeb is coming up on the outside with 651 operational satellites.
Starlink, SpaceX, and Musk shouldn't get too comfortable, as China also aims to have its own network of more than 10,000 orbiting satellites up and operational by the 2030s.
The great space race continues, but for now, Starlink is helping us stay more connected than ever.
