SpaceX’s ambitious plans to dramatically expand Starlink’s cellular satellite network are running into familiar resistance — and this time, the opposition is lining up fast (via PCMag).
SpaceX last year filed for FCC approval to launch an additional 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites to supercharge its Direct to Cell service, which beams cellular connectivity directly to smartphones in areas with no terrestrial coverage. While SpaceX already has clearance for roughly 12,000 satellites in total and currently operates about 650 Direct to Cell units, the company says the expanded constellation is needed to address bandwidth limitations and enable higher-quality video calls and faster data speeds worldwide.
Rival satellite operators and advocacy groups aren’t convinced, however. Viasat warned the FCC that the proposal would give SpaceX “an even greater ability and incentive to foreclose other operators from accessing and using limited orbital and spectrum resources on a competitive basis,” pointing out that SpaceX could ultimately have close to 49,000 satellites in orbit when all Starlink plans are tallied.
Globalstar, which powers satellite connectivity on Apple’s iPhones, also submitted objections. While SpaceX struck a $17 billion deal to use EchoStar’s licensed spectrum in the U.S., Globalstar argues the same satellites would tap the 1.6 GHz band internationally, risking interference. “SpaceX’s failure in the September Application to provide a legitimate interference analysis is not surprising,” Globalstar wrote, adding that “new operator entry into the Big LEO band is technically infeasible.”
Environmental concerns are also part of the pushback. DarkSky International urged regulators to consider the atmospheric impact of launching and deorbiting thousands of satellites, alleging that “SpaceX’s proposed satellites will dump millions of pounds of pollution into the atmosphere, causing significant environmental impacts both in space and on the ground.”
Even Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin weighed in. While not outright opposing the plan, the company warned that SpaceX’s proposed very low-Earth orbit of roughly 330 kilometers (205 miles) could interfere with rocket launch paths. The “very dense vLEO environment proposed by SpaceX,” Blue Origin cautioned, “risks imposing unnecessary launch-availability constraints” unless stricter coordination rules are adopted.
The objections come as Starlink Direct to Cell continues to gain traction, having connected more than 12 million people at least once since launch, with over 6 million monthly active users relying on it where traditional networks fail. While Starlink currently provides Direct to Cell service through partnerships with carriers like T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada, SpaceX is reportedly developing a standalone “Starlink Mobile” product that would function independently of existing telecom operators.
SpaceX has yet to formally respond to the latest filings, but history suggests resistance may not derail the plan — especially with FCC Chair Brendan Carr openly supportive of U.S. leadership in space and satellite infrastructure. Whether the FCC sides with SpaceX or its critics will help shape the future of satellite-to-phone connectivity worldwide.
