Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk, has announced that it possesses over 150 sextillion IPv6 addresses, a staggering figure that highlights the vastness of its network. Internet infrastructure analyst Doug Madory recently examined the data provided by Starlink regarding its IP address usage, which is crucial for understanding network operations and tackling cybercrime.
In a post on the Internet Society”s Pulse blog, Madory detailed his analysis of Starlink”s IP geolocation file. This file is utilized by network operators to self-report the locations where they deploy their IP addresses. Madory observed that Starlink”s holdings have seen a significant increase over the years. For instance, in April 2022, the service reported 592 /24 IPv4 blocks—each encompassing 256 IP addresses. By July of the same year, this number had escalated to 1,379 /24 blocks, along with numerous smaller allocations, totaling more than 350,000 IPv4 addresses. The scale of its IPv6 addresses is even more impressive, given that the entire IPv6 address space contains over 340 undecillion addresses.
According to Madory”s findings, Starlink”s file indicated it utilized 61 /36 blocks in April 2022, which equates to approximately 4.95 sextillion addresses. By July, the file listed 383 /40 blocks, each containing around 390 quintillion addresses, along with 24 /41 blocks and 205 /42 blocks, further compounding the total. In October, Madory identified an additional 86 /40 blocks in Starlink”s records, contributing to the estimate of over 150 sextillion IPv6 addresses. However, it is important to note that Starlink is unlikely to utilize all of these addresses due to the complexities of network management.
Geoff Huston, chief scientist at the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), also analyzed Starlink”s geolocation data and pointed out its significance in combatting cyber threats and enforcing intellectual property rights. Huston noted that current geolocation measurement techniques struggle to accommodate the widespread usage of satellite internet, highlighting an anomaly where approximately six million people in Yemen reportedly use Starlink, despite the country having around ten million internet users. He speculated that this discrepancy might stem from maritime traffic, as ships en route to the Suez Canal could be accessing Starlink services while in the vicinity of Yemen.
Huston proposed another theory, suggesting that Starlink might be utilizing Yemen as a distribution point for terminals sent to other nations. There have been ongoing reports of Starlink resellers establishing services in regions where regulatory approval is easier to obtain, then shipping the equipment to nearby countries. This could mean that users in Saudi Arabia are accessing Starlink services registered in Yemen.
Huston identified other peculiarities in the geolocation data, such as the presence of over 6,000 users in Saint Barthelemy, a small French territory with a population of around 9,000. He noted that while Starlink distinguishes between Guadeloupe and Saint Barthelemy, other databases do not, contributing to inflated user statistics in the region. Due to these concerns and additional discrepancies, Huston opted to classify some of Starlink”s geolocation data as “unclassified” for 20 economies, a decision aimed at preventing distortion in national measurements caused by the growing reliance on satellite internet services.
