The Federal Communications Commission voted Wednesday to open 1,050 megahertz of spectrum in the 12.7 GHz and 42 GHz bands for satellite broadband, creating a major new pool of airwaves that operators including SpaceX’s Starlink could seek to use for faster, more reliable service.
Spectrum is the invisible highway that carries every wireless signal. Starlink’s satellites and dishes can only communicate on frequencies the FCC authorizes, so opening additional spectrum creates more potential capacity for data to move across satellite networks.
The order adopted Wednesday makes 550 megahertz in the 12.7 to 13.25 GHz band available for downlinks to consumer dishes, including terminals on planes and ships, along with 500 megahertz in the 42 to 42.5 GHz band for downlinks to gateway stations that route traffic through the network. In its draft order, the FCC described the 12.7 GHz addition alone as “a more than 25 percent increase” in downlink spectrum available to satellite operators.
Starlink has been straining against capacity limits as its subscriber base keeps growing, with thousands of satellites now serving millions of subscribers around the world. The timing is notable for aviation because the order explicitly covers in-flight connectivity and arrives the same week the first Starlink-equipped SWISS aircraft entered service and the carrier’s public feud with Delta over Starlink spilled into view.
The FCC action does not mean Starlink can immediately begin using the newly opened frequencies. SpaceX must still file a modification application with the commission before using them, while dishes and satellites would need equipment compatible with the new bands. The FCC had not published the final text of the order as of Wednesday, leaving the full technical conditions still to come.
Wednesday’s action also included two further notices seeking comment on additional spectrum, including 1,175 megahertz across the Ku and Ka bands and 138.25 gigahertz in the D-band for heavier satellite use. Separately on Wednesday, the commission voted to overhaul its environmental review rules so satellite launches and operations are no longer treated as major federal actions, a change that could speed future Starlink licensing.
For Starlink, the next step is regulatory. SpaceX would need to apply to use the new airwaves and receive FCC approval before the additional spectrum can translate into more network capacity or changes subscribers can measure in everyday service.
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