The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX’s request to launch and operate 15,000 next-generation satellites for Starlink Mobile. The regulator granted the request on October 6, about a year after SpaceX submitted it in September 2025.
The FCC also issued a waiver allowing SpaceX to provide wireless services through its satellites without a spectrum leasing agreement with a ground mobile operator. Together, the approval and waiver open a regulatory path for SpaceX to compete directly with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, a move that SpaceX executives have already hinted at.
SpaceX says the new constellation will provide 5G speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user. The current version of Starlink Mobile works on about 650 satellites and is available in the United States only through T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service, with data speeds estimated at about 4 Mbps.
The FCC said SpaceX’s plans will expand consumer choice and bring “increased competition in the provision of retail wireless service” to Americans, as well as cover cellular dead zones. Thanks to the grant, the satellites can orbit between 326 and 335 km above the Earth. Lower orbits generally reduce latency for users on the ground.
The authorization covers frequencies that SpaceX is purchasing from EchoStar, Boost Mobile’s parent company, in the 1695 to 1710 MHz, 1915 to 1920 MHz, 1995 to 2000 MHz, 2000 to 2020 MHz, and 2180 to 2200 MHz bands in the United States. The satellites can also use T-Mobile’s PCS G-block spectrum from 1910 to 1915 MHz and 1990 to 1995 MHz, which powers the current Starlink Mobile service, and the FCC has cleared them for cellular operations outside the United States.
SpaceX can only test EchoStar frequencies until the second phase of the EchoStar acquisition closes on Nov. 30, 2027. SpaceX agreed in September 2025 to buy the spectrum for about $17 billion, and the FCC approved the transfer in May with a $2.4 billion escrow condition. The company expects to have begun launching its first second-generation Starlink Mobile satellites by the close of the deal.
SpaceX plans to pair the satellites with low-cost femtocells on the ground to extend coverage to suburbs and cities, instead of relying on traditional cell towers. Some telecom executives, including T-Mobile’s chief financial officer, rejected the approach. T-Mobile also downplayed T-Satellite and increased the ability to work with other satellite providers.
The FCC approved most of the request despite objections from rival satellite operators and environmental groups, who raised concerns about radio interference and light pollution. He postponed a decision on SpaceX’s requests to use the 2020 to 2025 MHz band in the United States and the 1429 to 2690 MHz range outside the United States.
I’ve been obsessed with technology for as long as I can remember, to the point that I’ve become the unofficial “tech support” for my entire family. Whether it’s fixing gadgets, explaining specs, or recommending best buys, I love breaking down technology for everyday people. That passion led me to write about technology. When I’m not testing gadgets or writing reviews, you’ll probably find me hiking or doom scrolling car lists (still looking for my first ride, wish me luck, lol).
