SpaceX Receives FCC Approval for 15,000 Starlink Mobile Satellites

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX's application to launch and operate up to 15,000 new-generation satellites for the Starlink Mobile cellular service.

The regulator's decision was made on October 6, about a year after the request was submitted. The FCC granted SpaceX an exception to existing regulations: the company is entitled to provide wireless communication services directly from satellites to smartphones without concluding a frequency lease agreement with ground-based mobile operators.

According to SpaceX's application, the new orbital grouping is designed to provide communication speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s per user. Currently, Starlink Mobile uses about 650 devices with a speed of around 4 Mbit/s and operates in the US in conjunction with T-Mobile. The regulator allowed the new satellites to be placed in orbits at an altitude of 326 to 335 km, as well as to use them outside the US in accordance with local legislation.

The network will use frequency ranges from 1695 to 2200 MHz, acquired from EchoStar (the parent company of Boost Mobile), as well as the 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands. At the same time, the FCC postponed consideration of SpaceX's requests for the use of the 2020-2025 MHz range within the US and the 1429-2690 MHz band for operations abroad.