News

A recent order from the FCC grants SpaceX authorization to construct and deploy the Gen2 Starlink constellation and supplemental coverage from space within the U.S.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved an application from SpaceX that will allow Starlink and T-Mobile the ability to provide supplemental cell service from space.

The approval, announced late last month by the FCC, is being reported by Reuters as the first of its kind from the commission.

A partnership between T-Mobile and Starlink has planned to provide text services to T-Mobile for Business customers utilizing Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellites this year. By 2025, T-Mobile hopes to voice and data services utilizing the satellite network.

The FCC’s approval follows a temporary approval given to Starlink by the FCC in October to provide direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services to parts of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

In January, SpaceX announced that the first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities had been launched.

According to T-Mobile’s release at the time, the technology can allow for coverage “even in many of the most remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell signals from any provider.”

The FCC’s Nov. 26 authorization allows SpaceX to operate previously authorized 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites “on certain frequency bands for the purpose of performing direct-to-cellular operations,” the order stated.

Reporting from Harry Baldock, of Total Telecom, contributed to this report.

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