SpaceX has been granted permission by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch an additional 7,500 satellites as part of its Starlink constellation project. This brings the total number of authorized satellites to 15,000, including those previously approved.
The FCC approval allows SpaceX to deploy the new satellites at various altitudes, ranging from 340 km to 485 km, and operate across multiple frequency bands, including Ku-, Ka-, V-, E-, and W-band frequencies. The commission is waiving certain requirements that previously limited overlapping beam coverage and enhanced capacity.
SpaceX's expanded constellation will enable the delivery of high-speed, low-latency internet services globally, including mobile and supplemental coverage from space. The company has already received permission to launch the first batch of 7,500 satellites in December 2022, with plans to lower approximately 4,400 existing satellites to lower altitudes during 2026.
The new authorization follows a $17 billion deal struck by SpaceX to buy spectrum licenses from EchoStar, which will reduce its reliance on cellular carriers. Starlink is also planning to launch another 15,000 satellites for mobile service, with the FCC now giving its approval.
However, not everyone is supportive of the expanded satellite project. Viasat and Globalstar have filed petitions to deny the application, citing concerns about interference risks and limited orbital and spectrum resources. Despite these objections, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has expressed support for SpaceX's project, arguing that it will deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition, and help ensure that no community is left behind.
The expansion of Starlink's constellation has significant implications for the global internet infrastructure and the satellite industry as a whole. As one of the largest players in this space, SpaceX's success will be closely watched by regulators, competitors, and consumers alike.
The FCC approval allows SpaceX to deploy the new satellites at various altitudes, ranging from 340 km to 485 km, and operate across multiple frequency bands, including Ku-, Ka-, V-, E-, and W-band frequencies. The commission is waiving certain requirements that previously limited overlapping beam coverage and enhanced capacity.
SpaceX's expanded constellation will enable the delivery of high-speed, low-latency internet services globally, including mobile and supplemental coverage from space. The company has already received permission to launch the first batch of 7,500 satellites in December 2022, with plans to lower approximately 4,400 existing satellites to lower altitudes during 2026.
The new authorization follows a $17 billion deal struck by SpaceX to buy spectrum licenses from EchoStar, which will reduce its reliance on cellular carriers. Starlink is also planning to launch another 15,000 satellites for mobile service, with the FCC now giving its approval.
However, not everyone is supportive of the expanded satellite project. Viasat and Globalstar have filed petitions to deny the application, citing concerns about interference risks and limited orbital and spectrum resources. Despite these objections, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has expressed support for SpaceX's project, arguing that it will deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition, and help ensure that no community is left behind.
The expansion of Starlink's constellation has significant implications for the global internet infrastructure and the satellite industry as a whole. As one of the largest players in this space, SpaceX's success will be closely watched by regulators, competitors, and consumers alike.
! 15k+ satellites is gonna bring super fast & reliable internet to everyone 
. I mean, think about it, we'll have internet from space lol 
. It's gonna be a game changer for remote areas and mobile users everywhere 
. The fact that Viasat and Globalstar are opposing it though is understandable - there are some concerns about interference risks 
. But I believe the benefits far outweigh the potential drawbacks 
. We need more players in this space to ensure everyone has access to decent internet. This is a major step forward for SpaceX & the future of satellite broadband 
I mean, I get that Starlink wants to bring high-speed internet to everyone, but can't they just use some good old-fashioned fiber optic cables instead? 
It seems like we're basically leaving our planet for these satellites and it just doesn't feel right. Plus, what about the whole space debris thing? 
It's already a major issue and now we've got even more of that floating around up there... 
I guess only time will tell how this all plays out, but I'm definitely keeping an eye on it! 
This is crazy! 15,000 satellites? It's mind-boggling to think about how it's gonna affect our planet 
.
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to see how it all plays out.
) against the potential risks (interference, orbital clutter). It's like trying to find the right balance in life - we can't just keep adding more and expecting everything to work out. There's a fine line between innovation and chaos. Can we keep that line straight? 
! I'm low-key hyped 
, high-key nervous 
cuz what if these satellites start causing some serious interference problems? 
But at the same time, I get it - we need that internet connectivity everywhere, no matter where you are 
It's gonna be a wild ride, folks! Let's see how this all plays out 
And don't even get me started on the 'unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities' – just means they'll be able to charge us more for internet 
. I mean, Viasat and Globalstar have some legit concerns about interference risks and limited resources... shouldn't we at least consider those before blindly supporting SpaceX's expansion? 
. I can already imagine it, no more buffering or slow speeds on my daily commute... 
And what about the Viasat and Globalstar petitions? Don't they have a right to be concerned? 
This is gonna cause more problems than it solves, mark my words... 
like what's next? 
They're already making it rain internet from space with their Starlink project! 
. At least with SpaceX's Starlink, we might actually get reliable, high-speed connections out there that can reach those hard-to-reach areas 
. And who knows, maybe this is the push we need to finally get universal internet access 
. I'm trying not to think about the whole environmental impact thing right now... it's a lot to wrap my head around 
. I'd love to see more transparency about how this is gonna play out...
It's gonna be a real party up in space with that many eyes watching us 
Still, gotta wonder about all the interference risks and whatnot. Hope they can make it work without causing too much harm to our poor planet 
. And what's up with the whole "global internet infrastructure" thing? Sounds like they're just trying to make sure everyone has access to the internet, because apparently, some people don't have it