Performance Test of Spacex’s Starlink: An Empirical Review

Abstract

In recent years, there has been significant interest in the deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations as a potential solution to provide broadband internet access to remote regions [1]. One such constellation, Starlink, run by SpaceX, promises fast internet connectivity via its constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of Starlink’s performance in Nigeria was given, assessing five performance metrics: latency, packet loss, throughput, routing strategy, and environmental influences. The tests were conducted for the various metrics using command-line tools like Ping (Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper), tracert (traceroute), iperf3 (Internet Performance Working Group), and Python scripts which were used to both automating the test procedures and analysing the collected data. Our findings reveal that Starlink’s latency was higher than advertised but still low compared to most Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, making it suitable for the majority of internet users. On average, the study found that packet loss remained relatively low, jitter was within acceptable limits, and throughput exhibited variations but generally maintained satisfactory levels. Also, heavy rainfall was found to affect Starlink’s performance, highlighting the impact of environmental factors.

Keywords

• starlink
• internet connectivity
• low earth orbit (leo)
• satellite constellations
• network performance