Starlink Secure Approval to Launch 7,500 Faster LEO Broadband Satellites

The Starlink (SpaceX) service, which offers ultrafast broadband speeds to the UK and globally via a massive global constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), has secured regulatory approval to launch 7,500 more satellites (albeit not quite the 22,000 they had originally wanted); these will sit at lower orbits, use more radio frequencies and deliver faster speeds.

Just for context. Starlink currently has around 9,400 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (c.6,000 are v2 / GEN2 variants) – mostly at altitudes of c.340-525km. Residential customers in the UK usually pay from £55 a month for the ‘Residential Lite’ unlimited data plan directly from Starlink (kit price may vary due to different offers), which promises downloads of up to 250Mbps (175Mbps average) and uploads of c.15-35Mbps. Faster packages exist at greater cost, while cheaper, albeit more restrictive (data capped), options also exist for roaming users (e.g. £50 per month for 50 GigaBytes of data).

Under the latest grant (via PC Mag) from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SpaceX will now be authorised to “construct, deploy, and operate an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, bringing the total to 15,000 satellites worldwide” (19,400 if we include earlier clearances for GEN1 satellites). The expansion will enable SpaceX to “deliver high-speed, low-latency internet service globally, including enhanced mobile and supplemental coverage from space“.

FCC Chairman Carr said: “This FCC authorization is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services. 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 decision allows SpaceX to:

➤ Upgrade the Gen2 Starlink satellites with advanced form factors and cutting-edge technology.

➤ Operate across Ku-, Ka-, V-, E-, and W-band frequencies, supporting both Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS).

NOTE: This also allows Starlink to communicate using the 1980-2000 MHz (Earth-to-space), 2000-2020MHz (Earth-to-space), and 2180-2200MHz (space-to-Earth) frequencies outside the U.S. with up to 7,500 satellites.

➤ Waive obsolete requirements that prevented overlapping beam coverage and enhanced capacity.

➤ Add new orbital shells at [even lower] altitudes ranging from 340km to 485km, optimizing coverage and performance (supporting this recent news).

NOTE: In the 340 km. 345 km. 350 km. 355 km. and 365 km orbital shells. SpaceX is authorised to operate in up to 72 planes per shell with up to 144 satellites per plane. In the 480 km and 485 km orbital shells, SpaceX is authorised to operate in up to 56 planes per shell with up to 120 satellites per plane.

➤ Provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States and supplemental coverage within the U.S., paving the way for next-generation mobile services.

According to the FCC: “The Gen2 Starlink Upgrade satellites, including an increased number of satellites, will allow for higher capacity to serve additional customers and gigabit speed service, including symmetrical download and upload speeds.”

The focus above is clearly on enhancements being made to existing launch plans of their second generation (GEN2) satellites. But it should be noted that SpaceX has also developed a larger and more sophisticated GEN3 satellite for future launches (summary of GEN3 details and here); albeit only once their Starship rocket is finally ready (expected in H1 this year), as they need to be able to launch 50-60 GEN3s per flight for commercial viability.

Each one of their GEN3 satellites are designed to provide over 1 Terabit per second of downlink capacity (1,000Gbps+) and over 200Gbps of uplink capacity to customers on the ground. But in the meantime, it makes sense for SpaceX to continue launching GEN2 satellites with additional enhancements to help it keep up with demand and remain competitive as new rivals emerge (e.g. Amazon’s Leo).