The FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, authorized SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink constellation expansion. The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission stated that the authorization of 15,000 additional Starlink satellites will allow SpaceX to deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities.  

SpaceX has obtained partial approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to upgrade Starlink, representing a key milestone toward gigabit internet speeds. This approval permits SpaceX to deploy 7,500 additional satellites in lower orbits and to use additional radio frequencies.  

The FCC’s Friday decision is expected to enhance the core Starlink satellite internet service and cellular Starlink system for phones, currently offered through T-Mobile in the US.  

SpaceX initially sought approval for over 22,000 satellites. The FCC instead issued a partial authorization but still anticipates that next-generation Starlink satellites will provide broader coverage and symmetrical gigabit speeds.  

A 34-page order doubles the satellite cap for the second-generation Starlink constellation, approved in December 2022, from 7,500 to 15,000 satellites. With previous approvals, SpaceX can now operate up to 19,400 satellites.  

According to the FCC Chairman’s statement, the order allows SpaceX to operate most satellites approximately 200 kilometers closer to Earth, which should decrease the delay. This entails deploying up to 144 satellites in up to 72 planes in each of the 340 km, 345 km, 350 km, 355 km, and 365 km orbital shells, and by deploying up to 120 satellites in up to 56 planes in the 480 km and 485 km orbital shells. 10-generation satellites may also continue operating at 500 km.  

SpaceX received a time-limited FCC waiver to operate Starlink at higher power levels, which should improve speeds. The FCC, in a quoted official reaction, said, “Granting the waiver benefits consumers while protecting geostationary operators.”  

The waiver is temporary and applies only to Starlink operations in the US. It requires SpaceX to avoid interfering with rival geostationary satellite constellations. Compliance with further FCC rules on EPFD limits will be necessary once those are finalized.  

The FCC has approved many, but not all, of the radio bands SpaceX requested to enhance Starlink’s data download and upload capabilities.  

Satellite industry analyst Tim Farrar believes the FCC order will substantially increase Starlink’s network capacity, which has faced congestion in certain U.S. regions due to strong user demand.  

Peak capacity in high-demand areas could be as much as five times higher (of course, you need to launch enough satellites to deliver that capacity). He told PCMAG in an email that it should allow for a considerable increase in the U.S. customer base, which is already likely closing in on 3 million subscribers. It will make it far less likely that Starlink experiences network congestion from high aircraft traffic near hubs, an area where ViaSat claimed an advantage.  

RR noted that the order allows SpaceX’s cellular styling system to use a portion of the 2GHz spectrum it is acquiring from EchoStar. However, the FCC’s approval for this frequency applies only outside the U.S., as the commission is still reviewing the spectrum transfer and SpaceX’s proposed 15,000-satellite constellation intended to use it.  

The approval represents a major milestone for SpaceX, despite objections from rival satellite operators over potential interference and blocked access to lower orbits. The FCC responded by setting conditions, including requiring SpaceX to halt any harmful interference if detected. The commission found SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to limit satellite reflections and coordinate with astronomers sufficient to address these issues. After a decision made on Friday, SpaceX plans to use this approval to launch the next generation of V3 Starlink satellites, which are larger and offer greater capacity. The company intends to deploy these satellites using the Starship vehicle, which is still in testing. SpaceX expects to launch the first V3 Starlink satellite later this year, according to the company. Starlink currently provides internet download speeds of up to 200 Mbps.