SpaceX has created a new mapping feature for Starlink that can tell you which localities are maxed out and which ones still have open capacity.
The feature is available on Starlink.com, and it gives a global breakdown of which markets Starlink is currently serving. You can then magnify the maps and see the various cell sites, which are shaped as hexagons.
Hexagons marked in light green indicate areas where customers can order Starlink now. Dark green hexagons signal that the cell site is at capacity, meaning new sign-ups will be placed on the pre-order waiting list.
The map for North America shows SpaceX has plenty of capacity for Starlink in the US Midwest, but not so much in populated areas in the east or along the West Coast. Type in your address to see if it’s at capacity or open for new orders. (If the box isn’t showing up for you, zoom way out.)
The map feature is the first time SpaceX has revealed geographic cell site information for Starlink, which is currently serving 250,000 users across the globe.
Starlink uses satellites in Earth’s orbit to deliver broadband to users on the ground. However, the satellites can only serve a limited number of users across each cell site as they fly over the planet. As a result, some Starlink users are still waiting to access the service, despite putting down a pre-order deposit months ago.
The mapping feature shows that many of the major cities in the US are booked solid, forcing affected users to wait until “2023 or later” for further availability. However, SpaceX is working to increase cell site capacity by launching thousands more Starlink satellites in the coming years. On Monday, CEO Elon Musk said his goal is to double the Starlink satellite count within the next 18 months.
