Starlink Expands in Europe Amidst Terrestrial Broadband Gaps
Severity: Low (Score: 21.9)
Sources: www.ookla.com, Lightreading, www.ftthcouncil.eu
Published: · Updated:
Keywords: europe, broadband, starlink, terrestrial, ookla, networks, shines
Summary
Starlink has become a significant alternative for broadband in areas of Europe lacking robust terrestrial networks. With over 4.6 million new customers in 2025, Starlink's performance has improved, showcasing median download speeds of 165.71 Mbps across 27 European markets in Q1 2026. Greece and Bulgaria are highlighted as key markets where Starlink fills coverage gaps, with Bulgaria having the highest sample at 8% despite low speeds. The service is particularly beneficial in rural and remote areas where fixed broadband is delayed or insufficient. However, Starlink's performance varies, with Bulgaria experiencing a drop in speed to 61.06 Mbps, indicating potential capacity strain. Overall, while Starlink's speeds have improved, terrestrial broadband remains superior in most European markets. Key Points: • Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers in 2025, enhancing its service. • Greece and Bulgaria are crucial markets for Starlink, filling broadband gaps in rural areas. • Despite improvements, Starlink's performance is still lower than terrestrial broadband in most regions.
Detailed Analysis
**Impact** The expansion of Starlink broadband in Europe primarily affects rural, remote, and underserved areas including islands, farms, mountain communities, and seasonal homes across countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Latvia, Croatia, Ireland, and the UK. Over 4.6 million new active Starlink customers were added globally in 2025, with Europe seeing median download speeds up to 232.51 Mbps in Latvia and 196.31 Mbps in Greece, surpassing some national fixed broadband medians. Bulgaria shows high Starlink adoption (8% sample) despite lower speeds (61.06 Mbps), indicating concentrated demand. Sectors impacted include residential consumers, agriculture, remote businesses, and education (e.g., 679 schools in Ireland’s National Broadband Plan area). **Technical Details** The articles do not provide information on attack vectors, TTPs, malware, CVEs, or threat actor infrastructure related to this event. No indicators of compromise (IOCs) or kill chain details are mentioned. The focus is on broadband service deployment and performance metrics rather than cybersecurity incidents. **Recommended Response** No specific cybersecurity response actions are indicated by the information provided. Defenders should monitor for potential vulnerabilities or disruptions associated with satellite broadband infrastructure as Starlink and other LEO providers expand in Europe. Awareness of partnerships between telcos and satellite providers may inform risk assessments related to network dependencies and supply chain exposure.
Source articles (3)
- Starlink shines where Europe's terrestrial broadband lags – Ookla — Lightreading · 2026-05-27
Starlink has established itself as a viable alternative for broadband in gaps left uncovered by Europe's terrestrial networks, according to Ookla. Europe isn't among the hottest key target markets for… - Starlink Europe Broadband 2026 — www.ookla.com · 2026-05-27
Europe’s broadband story can look close to complete from a national coverage chart. Fiber networks are expanding, gigabit targets are embedded in policy, and many households now have much faster fixed… - European Ftth B Market Panorama 2026 — www.ftthcouncil.eu · 2026-05-27
Timeline
- 2025-01-01 — Starlink customer growth reported: Starlink connected over 4.6 million new active customers in 2025, indicating strong demand.
- 2026-05-27 — Starlink performance data released: Starlink's median download speed across Europe reached 165.71 Mbps in Q1 2026, showing improvements.
- 2026-05-27 — Bulgaria's Starlink speeds decline: Bulgaria reported the lowest median download speed for Starlink at 61.06 Mbps, down 5% from the previous year.