Elon Musk declared on X that Starlink will likely carry the majority of Earth's IP traffic over time, at which point the satellite network would effectively become the internet itself.

The Sept. 27 post followed closely after SpaceX achieved a key milestone with its Starship rocket. On Monday, the vehicle reached orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight and deployed 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites before an early return to Earth.

Musk has outlined the technical path to this outcome in recent months. During SpaceX's August earnings call, he said V3 satellites offer roughly an order of magnitude more capability than V2 models. He projected that launching an order of magnitude more V3 satellites would deliver a two-order-of-magnitude increase in bandwidth. Musk tied the growth to surging demand from AI, humanoid robotics, and other machine-to-machine applications.

The recent Starship flight marked the first orbital deployment of V3 satellites. The mission launched from Starbase, Texas, at 8:48 a.m. Eastern time. Despite an engine issue during ascent that prompted an abbreviated flight plan, the upper stage reached orbit, released its payload, and performed a controlled reentry into the Pacific Ocean.

Musk has previously noted that connectivity per V3 satellite could reach 10 terabits per second in each direction, with a path to over 100 terabits. Each satellite carries significant power and onboard computing. SpaceX has filed for up to 100,000 such satellites with regulators.

Starlink already serves millions of users worldwide, including airlines, maritime operators, and remote communities. The company reported strong operating income in its most recent quarter as a newly public entity. Musk has emphasized that the system operates in the vast majority of countries where it receives approval.

The combination of higher-capacity satellites and frequent Starship launches positions the network for rapid scaling. Analysts have noted that projected bandwidth growth could match or exceed current global internet traffic levels within a few years under optimistic launch rates.

Musk's comments reflect ongoing progress at SpaceX toward integrating satellite connectivity as a core layer of global communications infrastructure.