Xsight Labs has announced that SpaceX’s Starlink program will integrate the company’s X2 programmable Ethernet switch into its next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, marking a significant step forward in orbital networking performance. The move positions the X2 as the high-speed data backbone for satellites designed to deliver more than 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of fronthaul throughput—over ten times the capacity of the Starlink V2 Mini platform currently in orbit.
The upcoming V3 fleet is engineered for a sharp leap in bandwidth, with uplink capacity estimated at 160 gigabits per second (Gbps) and data workloads spanning inter-satellite optical link traffic, global mesh routing, adaptive beam steering and high-throughput downlinks. These demands require a networking chip capable of processing massive volumes of real-time data across rapidly shifting orbital conditions—an area where the X2’s architecture plays a central role.
Built on TSMC’s N5 process and equipped with 100G SerDes, the X2 delivers 12.8 Tbps of switching performance within a power-efficient, ultra-low-latency data path optimised for harsh space environments. Its fully programmable design allows Starlink to modify routing behaviour and adapt to changes in constellation topology, traffic flow, or network policy without hardware redesign. Starlink aims to use this flexibility to bring fiber-class broadband experiences to both densely populated regions and remote communities traditionally underserved by terrestrial infrastructure.
The X2 switch has undergone a full suite of environmental qualification tests spanning vibration, temperature cycles, radiation exposure and thermal stress—conditions that reflect the demands of long-duration low-Earth orbit missions. The successful completion of these tests affirms its readiness to support large-scale deployment across the next wave of Starlink satellites, which will launch aboard SpaceX’s Starship.
Michael Nicolls, Vice President of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX, said the X2 would become a key component in meeting Starlink’s routing needs as the network scales. Yossi Meyouhas, CEO of Xsight Labs, called the partnership a milestone for space-grade networking silicon, noting that LEO connectivity represents one of the most complex environments for data processing and reliability. He added that ongoing optimisations to both control and data plane functionality will continue to strengthen performance as Starlink expands its global footprint.
The X2 is available commercially, alongside Xsight Labs’ wider portfolio of networking solutions, including its E1 platform designed for complementary next-generation system architectures.
