FCC approves Starlink satellite connectivity for mobile use

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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceX’s application for the use of its Starlink satellite networking service for aircraft, ships, vehicles, and other transportation vehicles. This means that in the future, users will be able to use Starlink satellite networking services everywhere, not just at fixed locations.

“Authorizing a new class of [customer] terminals for SpaceX’s satellite system will expand the range of broadband capabilities to meet the growing user demands that now require connectivity while on the move, whether driving an RV across the country, moving a freighter from Europe to a U.S. port, or while on a domestic or international flight,” FCC international bureau chief Tom Sullivan wrote in the authorization posted Thursday.

At present, Starlink has launched about 2,700 satellites, and it plans to launch more satellites to expand the network coverage. This caused Amazon’s dissatisfaction, believing that the number of its satellites was too large, which might affect the competition of other peers. There are even other views that the number of satellites launched by Starlink may cause interference with other communication services, or affect star observation.Therefore, in the content of this authorization agreement, the FCC also requires Starlink to assume that it may face adjustments or restrictions when operating in the future, avoiding affecting the competing interests of other providers of satellite networking services.

However, the content of the agreement did not specify whether it would agree to Starlink to expand the application scale of its satellite network services in the frequency band between 12.2 and 12.7GHz.

Prior to this, satellite networking service providers including RS Access and Kuiper Systems objected to this, emphasizing that the 12GHz frequency band should not be used exclusively by specific operators. It is believed that Starlink can expand its business development through other spectrum resources.

Via: CNBC

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