The event is big enough to earn itself a listing on Google Maps<\/a>, and that location information is reflected in Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data for the month of August:<\/p>\n Moreover, Ookla recorded a major spike in the number of Speedtest users in Nevada\u2019s Pershing County during the week of Burning Man. That\u2019s no surprise considering Pershing County\u2019s annual population sits at around 6,000, but spikes by 11x during the week of Burning Man.<\/p>\n Finally, it\u2019s worth noting that a dip in Starlink speeds in Pershing County \u2013 one of more than a dozen counties in Nevada \u2013 also occurred last year during Burning Man. Indeed, Nevada\u2019s median statewide Starlink speeds also dipped during the month of August 2024, mainly because of the network demands created by last year\u2019s Burning Man during that month. But Starlink\u2019s speeds across the entire United States were not affected.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tStarlink monthly median download speeds Network Loading<\/p>\n The dip in Starlink\u2019s speeds last week was likely due to the loading that the company\u2019s network experienced during Burning Man.<\/p>\n After all, a wireless network like Starlink\u2019s satellite network is a shared resource, much like any other telecom network. As more users connect to such a network, they all compete for access to the same limited bandwidth. This competition can lead to a decrease in network performance, as the available bandwidth is divided among an increasing number of devices. Consequently, if too many users are streaming video, downloading large files, or engaging in other high-bandwidth activities at the same time, the network can become congested, resulting in slower speeds for everyone connected.<\/p>\n Some Starlink users are already familiar with this concept. According to PCMag<\/a>, Starlink last year introduced $100 congestion charges for select areas where its network had become strained from too many users. This year, that fee rose to $250 in some cities. But in other cities where Starlink has excess capacity, the company has been offering potential customers free equipment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Network congestion is also a well-known issue for cellular operators like Verizon and T-Mobile. That\u2019s why some deploy temporary cell sites<\/a> during major events like concerts.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/base-map.png\")
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Burning Man is held annually at the end of August.<\/p>\n
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