Image: SpaceX
Starlink just received a massive green light from U.S. regulators that could significantly reshape the future of satellite internet and mobile connectivity.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized SpaceX to deploy and operate up to 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites, doubling the previously approved limit of 7,500. The decision clears the way for SpaceX to accelerate its second-generation Starlink constellation, expanding both broadband capacity and direct-to-cellular services from space.
“This expansion will enable SpaceX to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet service globally, including enhanced mobile and supplemental coverage from space,” the FCC said in its approval notice, as highlighted by longtime SpaceX and Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt).
Under the new authorization, SpaceX can upgrade its Gen2 Starlink satellites with more advanced designs and technology, operate across a wide range of spectrum bands — including Ku, Ka, V, E, and W — and support both Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS). The FCC has also waived older technical requirements that previously limited overlapping beam coverage, allowing Starlink to significantly boost network capacity.
The approval further allows SpaceX to add new orbital shells at altitudes between 340 km and 485 km, improving coverage density and performance. Perhaps most notably, the FCC decision explicitly enables expanded direct-to-cell connectivity outside the U.S., alongside supplemental coverage within the country — a key step toward true satellite-powered mobile service.
This ruling comes after months of lobbying from Starlink competitors such as Viasat and Globalstar, which had urged regulators to block or scale back SpaceX’s expansion plans. Starlink first applied for approval to deploy up to 15,000 next-gen satellites last September as part of its broader push to enhance Direct to Cell service.
As of now, Starlink operates more than 9,000 satellites in orbit and is expected to surpass 10,000 by next month. Roughly 650 of those already support early Direct to Cell capabilities, powering satellite-to-phone connectivity in partnership with carriers like T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada. SpaceX is also reportedly preparing a standalone “Starlink Mobile” service that could operate independently of traditional telecom partners.
With regulatory hurdles cleared, SpaceX can now move aggressively toward scaling what could become the world’s largest and most capable satellite communications network.
