Elon Musk’s SpaceX gets FCC approval to deploy 7,500 Starlink satellites; agency says it's ‘a game changer for…’

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorised SpaceX to expand its satellite network to enhance global internet and mobile connectivity. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the US government agency recently approved a request from the rocket company to deploy 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites. This authorisation will increase the total permitted number of satellites to 15,000 and will allow the company to operate across five different frequencies to increase network capacity and coverage.

The expanded satellite constellation is also intended to support direct-to-cell connectivity and provide internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, the Reuters report claims. According to the FCC, the additional hardware will facilitate mobile services outside the US while providing supplemental coverage within the country. As per the report, the agency relaxed earlier regulations that limited overlapping coverage, enabling more reliable service.

What FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said about the SpaceX approval

In a statement to Reuters, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said, “This FCC authorisation is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services. By authorising 15,000 new and advanced satellites, the FCC has given SpaceX the green light to deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition, and help ensure that no community is left behind.”

The Reuters report noted that SpaceX had applied for permission to deploy close to 30,000 satellites, but the FCC said it is currently approving only 15,000 of them.

“We find that authorisation for additional satellites is in the public interest, even as the Gen2 Starlink Upgrade satellites remain untested on orbit. We defer authorisation of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites, including satellites proposed for operations above 600 km,” the FCC noted.

The FCC has even ordered SpaceX to launch 50% of its approved Gen2 satellites, put them in their assigned orbits, and operate them by December 1, 2028. SpaceX must launch the remaining satellites by December 2031. It must also complete the deployment of all 7,500 first-generation satellites into orbit by late November 2027.

Last week, Starlink said it would start moving its satellites to lower orbits in 2026. The satellites currently orbiting at around 550 km (342 miles) will be lowered to 480 km. This move is meant to improve space safety.

In December, Starlink said one of its satellites had a problem in space that created a small amount of debris. The company lost communication with the spacecraft, which was orbiting at 418 km. This kind of accident is rare for the satellite internet company.

SpaceX has become the world's largest satellite operator through Starlink, a network of about 9,400 satellites that provide broadband internet to consumers, governments, and businesses.

The FCC's former head, Jessica Rosenworcel, demanded more competition for SpaceX's Starlink in 2024. She pointed out that at the time, Starlink was in charge of almost two-thirds of all operational satellites.