The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a step last week to advance satellite communications, specifically for SpaceX and its Starlink service.
The regulator gave approval for SpaceX (Space Exploration Holdings) to add significantly to its satellite network. The FCC approval enables SpaceX to add 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites to orbit, doubling its current number and bringing its total network to 15,000 satellites.
According to the FCC, the additional satellites will enable SpaceX to better provide low-latency, high-speed internet communications across the globe.
More specifically, the approval enables the company to:
- Support both fixed satellite service (FSS) and mobile satellite service (MSS) by operating across Ku-, Ka-, V-, E-, and W-band frequencies
- Avoid certain requirements that kept SpaceX from overlapping beam coverage and enhanced capacity
- Use new orbital shells at altitudes ranging from 340 km to 485 km
- Provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the U.S. and supplemental coverage within the country
“This FCC authorization is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a prepared statement. “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.”
The FCC approval should enable SpaceX to leverage its recently announced speed increases, which were announced on the social media platform X late last year. “Significant improvements in @starlink network performance in 2025, with median peak-hour network-wide speeds increasing by over 50%,” Starlink Vice President of Engineering Michael Nicolls said in a tweet.
As the FCC expands SpaceX’s abilities with Starlink, its rival satellite broadband provider Amazon Leo is in the midst of a preview phase. Amazon Leo said the preview will also the company to gather additional customer feedback and tailor solutions for specific industries ahead of a broader 2026 rollout.
