SpaceX: Don’t worry about cutting down trees to get a Starlink signal anymore

SpaceX says a new Starlink upgrade can keep the satellite internet flowing — even if trees partially block your home’s view of the sky. Last week, the company touted its real-time “beam switching” system to maintain satellite internet connectivity even if a Starlink dish is partially obstructed, like tree cover overhead. 

The system appears to work because SpaceX now has around 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, creating a dense network of radio links to beam the high-speed internet to dishes on the ground. The company previously told users it was developing a way to seamlessly hand off connections between satellites, helping the radio signal bypass obstacles.

“Obstructed user performance is a priority. We are continuing to launch more satellites, providing satellite options at better angles for Starlink to connect to,” the company wrote in a support page in 2023.