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SpaceX has struck a deal with Comcast, one of the US’s largest home internet providers, to supply Starlink access to the ISP’s enterprise customers. The strategic partnership applies to Comcast Business, which currently has 2.6 million customers. Although Comcast Business already operates 600,000 miles in fiber networks, it’s decided to tap Starlink’s orbiting satellites to help it deliver high-speed internet to enterprise customers in “underserved regions.”In Friday’s announcement, Comcast Business noted that some of its customers can face connectivity challenges especially in areas where there’s no access to high-speed fiber networks. “Starlink’s LEO (low-Earth orbiting) satellite technology complements our existing network infrastructure, extends our reach and further enhances Comcast Business’ ability to deliver reliable connectivity solutions to enterprises with a human touch,” said Jon Friedman, SVP for Comcast Business. The deal is one of the first times SpaceX has partnered with a major US internet provider. Outside of Comcast, SpaceX is also working with T-Mobile to launch a cellular Starlink service. The partnership also underscores how Starlink can fill gaps in broadband access, according to SpaceX VP Jason Fritch. “This agreement with a leading service provider is an acknowledgement of Starlink’s growing role as a critical element in modern enterprise networks,” he said in the announcement. The two companies haven’t provided more details. So it’s unclear how the partnership will exactly work. But it’s possible SpaceX will end up supplying high-performance Starlink dishes to Comcast Business customers looking to receive satellite internet access in remote and rural regions. Another solution involves SpaceX building larger scale “Community Gateway” facilities to help supply the satellite internet access to select Comcast Business customers.
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UPDATE: In a statement, Comcast Business said it’ll be “delivering, installing, and managing the Starlink equipment as part of our overall managed services offering.”Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to remove mention of Comcast Business as a home internet provider.
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