Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, fell short of market expectations for consumer subscriber growth. Its business and government revenue and revenue per subscriber showed growth.

On Oct. 20, SpaceX and multiple foreign media outlets said Starlink had 13.6 million consumer subscribers as of end-September, up 1.6 million from three months earlier. That missed Bloomberg analysts' forecast of 14.2 million. SpaceX explained the figure does not include several hundred thousand business subscribers and aviation customers.

Profitability indicators improved. Starlink's monthly revenue per consumer subscriber rose 5 percent from the previous quarter. Business and government revenue jumped 91 percent year on year to $2.1 billion.

The aviation segment is also emerging as a key growth driver. SpaceX said Starlink equipment was installed on a total of 3,800 aircraft as of end-September. Bret Johnsen (Bret Johnsen), SpaceX's chief financial officer, said at an earnings presentation, "Aviation remains an important growth opportunity," adding, "Installations are still at an early stage at a significant number of major airlines around the world."

SpaceX is also accelerating its push into the mobile communications market. The company agreed on Oct. 8 to acquire low-band wireless spectrum assets held by asset manager Grain Management. It plans to use the deal as a basis to expand Starlink into a service that can compete with existing mobile carriers such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

SpaceX plans to use the spectrum for Starlink Mobile. Starlink Mobile is a satellite-terrestrial hybrid network designed to work indoors and outdoors, including in mobile dead zones.

The mobile market push was also evident in its first earnings presentation in August. At the time, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell (Gwynne Shotwell) said the company was reviewing a plan to implement cellular base-station functions in equipment that supports Starlink broadband antennas.

SpaceX executives estimated the annual size of the mobile communications market at $600 billion. Shotwell predicted the company could secure a significant number of customers from existing mobile carriers.

Starlink is expanding its business scope not only by increasing consumer subscribers but also through growth in business and government revenue, the aviation segment and its entry into the mobile communications market.