FCC Approves 7,500 More Starlink Satellites for SpaceX

The Federal Communications Commission announced on January 9 that it has approved SpaceX's request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total authorized for the company's next-generation constellation to 15,000 worldwide. The partial grant addresses part of SpaceX's broader proposal for nearly 30,000 satellites, while deferring a decision on the remaining spacecraft.

The approval allows SpaceX to expand its low-Earth orbit network to enhance global broadband internet access, including high-speed, low-latency services reaching up to one gigabit per second. It also enables direct-to-cell connectivity for mobile devices outside the United States and supplemental coverage within the U.S., where users can send texts and access apps in areas without terrestrial cellular networks. In the U.S., this builds on a partnership with T-Mobile, with plans to add voice calls over satellite in the future.

Under the order, SpaceX can upgrade the Gen2 satellites with advanced designs and operate across multiple frequency bands, including Ku and Ka for user links, as well as V, E, and W bands for gateway and backhaul connections. The commission waived...