FCC Authorizes Deployment of 7,500 Additional Starlink Satellites
On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission approved a plan to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation low-Earth orbit satellites. As a result, the decision supports efforts to expand global broadband coverage and improve service reliability.
The approval allows the operator to bring the total number of authorized satellites to 15,000 worldwide. Moreover, the regulator granted permission to upgrade satellite technology and operate across five frequency bands. At the same time, it waived earlier limits that restricted overlapping coverage and capacity improvements.
Connectivity gains and service upgrades
According to the commission, the additional satellites will enable direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States. In addition, they will provide supplemental domestic coverage, which supports next-generation mobile services. Consequently, users could experience internet speeds reaching up to one gigabit per second.
“This FCC authorization is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr said. “By authorizing 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.”
Although the company sought approval for nearly 30,000 satellites, the regulator limited the current authorization to 15,000. Therefore, officials deferred a decision on the remaining proposals, including satellites planned for higher orbits.
Deployment deadlines and safety measures
“We find that authorization for additional satellites is in the public interest, even as the Gen2 Starlink Upgrade satellites remain untested on orbit. We defer authorization of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites, including satellites proposed for operations above 600 km,” the FCC said.
Under the terms, 50% of the newly authorized satellites must launch and operate in assigned orbits by December 1, 2028. Additionally, the remaining satellites must deploy by December 2031, while first-generation satellites must complete deployment by late November 2027.
Meanwhile, the satellite network will undergo a reconfiguration starting in 2026. Specifically, satellites currently orbiting around 550 km will move down to 480 km to improve space safety. However, the company recently reported a rare in-orbit incident that produced a small amount of debris and disrupted communications with one spacecraft.
Today, the network includes about 9,400 active satellites serving consumers, governments, and enterprises. Previously, regulators also emphasized the need for greater competition, noting that the constellation controls a significant share of active satellites in orbit.
