Accelerating Deployment! SpaceX Approved to Deploy 7,500 More Starlink Satellites
Regulatory green light: SpaceX's global satellite internet network expands, marking another key milestone.
On Friday local time, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formally approved SpaceX’s application to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation (Gen2) “Starlink” satellites. This decision marks further support from US regulators for Elon Musk's space exploration company as it expands in the global internet service sector.
The FCC stated that this approval allows SpaceX to operate an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of approved Gen2 satellites in orbit to 15,000. Besides increasing the quantity, the commission also approved technical upgrades for the satellites, permitting operations across five bands. Notably, the FCC exempted SpaceX from previous restrictions on signal coverage overlap and network capacity limits, clearing regulatory obstacles for improved service quality.
The agency pointed out that these new satellites will hold strategic significance, providing direct-to-cell satellite network services for regions outside the US and strengthening network coverage domestically. These technical upgrades not only support next-generation mobile communication services but will also significantly improve network performance, potentially achieving internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (1 Gbps).
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr highly praised this approval, stating: “This FCC authorization is a game-changer for the realization of next-generation services.” Carr emphasized: “By authorizing 15,000 new advanced satellites, the FCC has given SpaceX the green light to deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, enhance competition, and help ensure no community is left behind.”
Total Approved: 15,000 Satellites
According to reports, SpaceX previously sought approval for nearly 30,000 satellites, but the FCC has so far only approved deployment plans for a total of 15,000. The FCC stated in a release: “We find that the authorization of additional satellites serves the public interest, even though the upgraded Gen2 Starlink satellites remain untested in orbit.”
The core highlight of this approval lies in technical specification upgrades. By allowing the use of more frequency bands and lifting restrictions on coverage overlap, SpaceX will be able to more flexibly manage network traffic. The new satellites will focus mainly on raising connection speeds to gigabit levels and supporting direct mobile device connections, regarded as a key step in integrating satellite internet with traditional mobile communications.
As for the remaining approximately 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites (including those planned to operate above 600 km orbit), the FCC said authorization will be postponed. This means SpaceX’s full ambitions must still pass regulatory reviews in stages.
Clear Deployment Timeline: 50% Launch by December 2028
To prevent spectrum resources from being idle and ensure implementation, the FCC has set strict milestone-based deadlines for SpaceX.
According to reports, the FCC requires SpaceX to launch and operate 50% of the maximum authorized Gen2 satellites and deploy them into designated orbits by December 1, 2028. The remainder must be launched by December 2031. In addition, for first-generation Starlink satellites, the FCC requires SpaceX to complete the deployment of 7,500 satellites by late November 2027.
This timeline reflects regulators’ encouragement of innovation while also setting specific requirements for operators’ execution capabilities, ensuring spectrum resources can be effectively translated into practical service capacity.
Consolidating Market Leadership
Currently, SpaceX has become the world’s largest satellite operator through the Starlink network, which now has about 9,400 satellites, providing broadband internet services for consumers, governments, and enterprise clients.
Former FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged for more competition in SpaceX’s Starlink constellation in 2024, noting that Starlink controlled nearly two-thirds of all active satellites. The current chair, Brendan Carr, emphasizes expanding capacity to “strengthen competition” and improve service.
In terms of operational safety, last week Starlink announced it would begin reconfiguring its constellation in 2026, lowering all satellites operating at roughly 550 km (342 miles) orbit down to 480 km, aiming to increase space safety. Previously in December, Starlink reported one satellite had an anomaly in space, causing a small amount of debris at 418 km altitude and loss of contact.
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