Starlink’s Global Reach: List of Government and Corporate Contracts Using Elon Musk’s Satellites

Key Takeaways

• Starlink has extended its reach across the public and private sectors in just a few years.
• Government-funded contracts include military and emergency services applications.
• The shipping and aviation sectors lead commercial adoption, but mobile network operators could be Starlink’s next breakthrough.

Since its launch in 2019, Starlink has emerged as the single largest satellite constellation in the world, with over 7,000 satellites in Low Earth Orbit. 

Today, Starlink’s satellite system provides internet coverage to over a hundred countries and is pending regulatory approval in around a dozen more. Meanwhile, industry analysts estimate the company has sold hundreds of thousands of terminals around the world.

Commercial Adoption

Starlink’s first customers were generally businesses and individuals in rural areas. But it is increasingly deployed on boats and aircraft too.

To service the maritime sector, Starlink has partnered with KVH Industries, which deploys the technology alongside traditional VSAT systems to improve onboard internet.

Some of the world’s largest shipping companies, including MSC, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, have installed Starlink antennas on their vessels, as have cruise operators such as Cunard, Carnival and Holland America. 

In the aviation sector, several airlines have tapped Starlink for in-flight internet.

As of March 2025, at least eight airlines had either adopted or planned to adopt Starlink Aviation. These include Air France, United Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Finally, Starlink’s partnership with T-Mobile marks a new expansion into mobile internet.

Launched on Feb. 9, T-Mobile Starlink aims to extend internet coverage to areas where tower-based cellular networks don’t reach.

Such partnerships hold huge potential in rural areas. This could explain why Starlink has signed deals with Australia’s two largest network operators, Telstra and Optus.

Military Usage

Starlink’s compact, easy-to-deploy terminals and resilient satellite network make it ideal for military communications.

While it uses the same satellites, Starlink’s sister company, Starshield, technically provides military services. Alongside enhanced encryption, Starshield provides additional capabilities such as target tracking, optical and radio reconnaissance, and early missile warnings.

Starshield has secured multiple contracts with the U.S. government, including the Space Force, Army and Air Force.

In Europe, the Pentagon and the Polish Digitization Ministry have both contracted Starlink to provide services to the Ukrainian military. (Although the company’s continued presence in Ukraine looks uncertain.)

Meanwhile, the Italian government is exploring a €1.5 billion project with SpaceX to enhance secure satellite communications for government and military use.

Public Sector Contracts

Besides military applications, governments around the world have moved to deploy Starlink for civilian uses.

Emergency service providers have become an important market for Starlink. For example, in Australia, the NSW Rural Fire Service paid $41 million to install Starlink on thousands of emergency vehicles.

In February, the Verge reported that Starlink was poised to take over a $2.4 billion contract from Verizon to modernize the U.S. air traffic control communication system.

According to a government database , the company has already been awarded 39 contracts, mostly from the Department of Defence. In total, Starlink parent company SpaceX has received $3.5 billion from the federal government

Other U.S. agencies that have expressed an interest in Starlink include the General Services Administration and Customs and Border Protection.

Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk has suggested that the company could also provide services to the Department of Agriculture.

On the other hand, the Canadian province of Ontario recently ripped up $100 million worth of Starlink contracts in retaliation against U.S. tariffs.

Starlink’s Biggest Contracts