SpaceX has obtained permission to launch another 7,500 satellites
On Friday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceX's request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites. SpaceX can now operate a total of 15,000 Gen2 satellites.
The regulatory authority also approved the modernization of satellites, operation in five frequency bands, and lifted some of the original restrictions that prevented coverage overlap and capacity increases.
According to the FCC, the new satellites will provide direct mobile satellite connectivity outside the US and additional coverage within the United States. The agency says the system will enable next-generation services and internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second.
SpaceX originally requested permission for nearly 30,000 satellites, but the FCC has so far approved only 15,000 and postponed the rest.
The company must launch and operate half of the approved capacity by December 1, 2028, and the rest by December 2031. The deployment of the first generation of satellites is expected to be completed by November 2027.
Starlink also announced that it plans to lower the orbit of its satellites from approximately 550 to 480 kilometers in 2026 for safety reasons.
(reuters, lud)