Space X to Merge with EchoStar?

[telstar_1]

I would think you can get whatever you wish.

Maybe a ph. line as well, like in The Twilight Zone...?

 

[gpflepsen]

i was thinking of taking it all with me and building and underground pad

Don't put a periscope in, that would be f'n weird!

 

[Foxbat]

Watching the Indiana game this weekend I saw this after my Hopper crashed for the third time and I decided to let it record the 4K HDR event instead of watching it:

 

[Jim5506]

Mine kept flashing a blank screen about every 45-60 seconds audio was not interrupted.

Only about 1/2 second long but irritating.

The Joey 4 did not seem to exhibit this quirk.

 

[telstar_1]

Huh, DiSH 45 years? It's barely cracked 30...Unless this is a dealer counting back through c-band and offair

 

[profish]

bit more on the starlink/dish thing

DISH Network and Starlink Launch New TV + Internet Bundles

DISH has officially started offering Starlink internet plans in the U.S., bundling SpaceX’s satellite broadband service alongside its traditional TV packages

teslanorth.com

 

[MikeD-C05]

Huh, DiSH 45 years? It's barely cracked 30...Unless this is a dealer counting back through c-band and offair

EchoStar was founded in 1980 ( 45 years ago) by Charlie Ergen and Candy Ergen and Jim DeFranco as a distributor of C-band satellite TV dishes. Originally operating as Echosphere Corporation, it evolved from a small Colorado-based retailer into a major satellite owner and operator, later launching DISH Network service in 1996 (30 years ago).

Recent history: In 2023 EchoStar completed a merger to re-acquire DISH Network, brining the companies back together.

 

[telstar_1]

DiSH was a hard break from previous involvement in home satellite as Echo. Echo wasn't DBS. Echo wasn't even a service provider. When a co. is telling me that it's "trusted," I'm immediately suspicious. I sure don't "trust" them

 

[John2021]

bit more on the starlink/dish thing

DISH Network and Starlink Launch New TV + Internet Bundles

DISH has officially started offering Starlink internet plans in the U.S., bundling SpaceX’s satellite broadband service alongside its traditional TV packages

teslanorth.com

I wonder if there fleesing or selling the starlink hardware. they been advertising it hard on my dish acct and tv screen

 

[John2021]

seen an add for $ 50.00 a month with free instal!!!
i wonder how well charlies gonna make out on this i view starlink as a niche market for travelers and people in the boonies

 

[John2021]

Amazon leo is getting 1GIG down and 500 mbps up

 

[HipKat]

seen an add for $ 50.00 a month with free instal!!!
i wonder how well charlies gonna make out on this i view starlink as a niche market for travelers and people in the boonies

Another one. Are you and Ear Demon the same person?? Both so friggin negative and seriously uninformed.
We set up Starlink in every type of neighborhood, so it's hardly a niche market.

Try learning something

1. Revenues are projected to jump materially in 2026
• Multiple industry estimates peg Starlink's contribution to SpaceX revenue rising sharply in 2026 — with total SpaceX revenue forecast around $22 billion–$24 billion, and Starlink making up the bulk (roughly ~70%) of it. That implies Starlink revenues could be roughly $15 billion-plus in 2026.
• Bloomberg and Reuters reporting also suggest SpaceX expects up to ~$24 billion in total 2026 revenue, heavily weighted to Starlink.

2. Subscriber growth remains strong but is converging to more sustainable expansion
• Starlink crossed ~9 million global subscribers by the end of 2025.
• Independent industry modeling (e.g., Quilty Space forecasts) saw ~8.2 million subscribers by end-2025 and growth continuing into 2026 — solid growth, but not a hockey stick.
• Reddit chatter and trend data point to recently accelerated net adds, suggesting subscriber base could continue rising quickly — but this isn't official.

3. Breakouts in B2B, aviation, maritime, and government markets
• Beyond consumer broadband, Starlink is courting higher-value enterprise segments (e.g., maritime, aviation Wi-Fi, energy sector), which could lift average revenue per user and total ARPU faster than simple subscriber count alone.
• Government contracts via Starshield and direct-to-cell (DTC) technology with carriers add revenue diversification beyond household ISP pricing.

4. Operational and structural shifts in 2026
• SpaceX is lowering thousands of satellites to reduce collision risks — a constellation reconfiguration that consumes fleet bandwidth and engineering resources but supports long-term sustainability and regulatory credibility.
• The SpaceX IPO, widely discussed for mid-2026 at a potential $1.5 trillion valuation, is partly justified by Starlink's growth trajectory. That doesn't change growth performance directly, but it sets market expectations.

5. Risks to growth that matter for 2026
• Regulatory approvals remain a gating factor for new markets; delays can slow subscriber expansion.
• Technical and operational challenges — like satellite maintenance, orbital debris concerns, and service outages — can interrupt momentum.
• Competition from other mega-constellations (e.g., Amazon's Project Kuiper) looms, though they're still newer and smaller.

Summary Prediction for 2026 Growth
Revenue: Roughly $15 billion+ for Starlink specifically (majority of SpaceX revenue).
Subscriber Base: Continued strong double-digit growth — likely 9M+ in early '26 expanding significantly beyond that by year-end.
Profitability: EBITDA and free cash flow trending positive and strengthening as capex normalizes and high-margin enterprise segments grow.
Strategic Positioning: Still top dog in LEO satellite internet globally, with expansion into new markets and adjacent services.

 

[John2021]

Another one. Are you and Ear Demon the same person?? Both so friggin negative and seriously uninformed.
We set up Starlink in every type of neighborhood, so it's hardly a niche market.

Try learning something

1. Revenues are projected to jump materially in 2026
• Multiple industry estimates peg Starlink's contribution to SpaceX revenue rising sharply in 2026 — with total SpaceX revenue forecast around $22 billion–$24 billion, and Starlink making up the bulk (roughly ~70%) of it. That implies Starlink revenues could be roughly $15 billion-plus in 2026.
• Bloomberg and Reuters reporting also suggest SpaceX expects up to ~$24 billion in total 2026 revenue, heavily weighted to Starlink.

2. Subscriber growth remains strong but is converging to more sustainable expansion
• Starlink crossed ~9 million global subscribers by the end of 2025.
• Independent industry modeling (e.g., Quilty Space forecasts) saw ~8.2 million subscribers by end-2025 and growth continuing into 2026 — solid growth, but not a hockey stick.
• Reddit chatter and trend data point to recently accelerated net adds, suggesting subscriber base could continue rising quickly — but this isn't official.

3. Breakouts in B2B, aviation, maritime, and government markets
• Beyond consumer broadband, Starlink is courting higher-value enterprise segments (e.g., maritime, aviation Wi-Fi, energy sector), which could lift average revenue per user and total ARPU faster than simple subscriber count alone.
• Government contracts via Starshield and direct-to-cell (DTC) technology with carriers add revenue diversification beyond household ISP pricing.

4. Operational and structural shifts in 2026
• SpaceX is lowering thousands of satellites to reduce collision risks — a constellation reconfiguration that consumes fleet bandwidth and engineering resources but supports long-term sustainability and regulatory credibility.
• The SpaceX IPO, widely discussed for mid-2026 at a potential $1.5 trillion valuation, is partly justified by Starlink's growth trajectory. That doesn't change growth performance directly, but it sets market expectations.

5. Risks to growth that matter for 2026
• Regulatory approvals remain a gating factor for new markets; delays can slow subscriber expansion.
• Technical and operational challenges — like satellite maintenance, orbital debris concerns, and service outages — can interrupt momentum.
• Competition from other mega-constellations (e.g., Amazon's Project Kuiper) looms, though they're still newer and smaller.

Summary Prediction for 2026 Growth
Revenue: Roughly $15 billion+ for Starlink specifically (majority of SpaceX revenue).
Subscriber Base: Continued strong double-digit growth — likely 9M+ in early '26 expanding significantly beyond that by year-end.
Profitability: EBITDA and free cash flow trending positive and strengthening as capex normalizes and high-margin enterprise segments grow.
Strategic Positioning: Still top dog in LEO satellite internet globally, with expansion into new markets and adjacent services.

No me and Ear Demon are not the same person!!! I would only use starlink while traveling or in the boonies where there's no broadband available and during outages... as an everyday provider it makes no sense to pay starlink rates when i can get gig speeds fiber for 50.00 a month... just my thoughts and our exp with dish has been positive no complaints everything works like it should

 

[HipKat]

I would only use starlink while traveling or in the boonies where there's no broadband available and during outages...

YOU! That's what YOU would do.

as an everyday provider it makes no sense to pay starlink rates when i can get gig speeds fiber for 50.00 a month... just my thoughts and our exp with dish has been positive no complaints everything works like it should

How much do you think people are paying for Starlink now?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I keep checking this threat expecting to see the news that Elon is buying out Charlie and that Charlie is retiring...

This news would NOT surprise me this year.

Maybe we should have a pool and see who's closest to the date of that announcement.

 

[rvvaquero]

I keep checking this threat expecting to see the news that Elon is buying out Charlie

Actually, Elon bought out Elon.

SpaceX acquires xAI in record-setting deal as Musk looks to unify AI and space ambitions

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