FCC Greenlights 7,500 More Starlink Satellites for 'Gigabit' Connectivity

Regulator approves second-generation expansion, doubling authorized Gen2 fleet to 15,000.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a major victory to SpaceX, approving the deployment of an additional 7,500 second-generation (Gen2) Starlink satellites. This decision effectively doubles the authorized Gen2 constellation to 15,000 units and accelerates Elon Musk's goal of delivering fiber-like connectivity worldwide.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailed the authorization as a "game-changer," enabling next-generation services including direct-to-cell connectivity outside the U.S. and promising speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (1 Gbps) for consumers. The approval also allows Starlink to operate across five new frequency bands and at lower orbits (down to 340 km) to enhance capacity and reduce latency.

The Gen2 mandate: Speed, capacity, and deadlines

The new batch of satellites is central to Starlink’s plan to move beyond rural broadband and compete with terrestrial mobile carriers and fiber ISPs.

The expanded spectrum access and lower orbits are designed to dramatically increase the constellation's overall bandwidth, enabling symmetrical gigabit speeds in high-demand areas.

Moreover, the Gen2 satellites are crucial for the rollout of direct-to-cell services, which enable standard, unmodified smartphones to connect directly to the Starlink network through partnerships with mobile providers like T-Mobile in the US.

Deployment timeline

The FCC order imposes strict milestones. SpaceX must launch and operate 50% of the authorized 15,000 Gen2 satellites by December 2028 and complete the full deployment by December 2031.

Escalating concerns over orbital crowding and security

The FCC's decision has faced intense opposition, with critics raising alarms over the long-term impact of such massive scale on the space environment and global security.

Orbital debris

Rival satellite operators (like Viasat and Amazon's Project Kuiper) and environmental groups have warned that the massive volume of LEO satellites increases the risk of orbital collisions (the Kessler Syndrome), making certain orbital paths unusable.

SpaceX has committed to de-orbiting failed satellites within three years, but the sheer volume raises inherent risk.

Astronomical interference

Astronomers and the DarkSky International group continue to argue that the proliferation of bright satellites and their radio emissions significantly contaminate images from optical telescopes and interfere with radio astronomy, threatening long-term scientific observation of the universe.

Strategic stability

Geopolitical analysts, particularly in China, warn that Starlink’s military cooperation with the U.S. DoD and its growing scale threaten global strategic stability, potentially leading to an arms race in space and challenging the principle of peaceful use of the low-Earth orbit domain.

Despite these concerns, the FCC determined that SpaceX's efforts to coordinate with stakeholders and mitigate risks are "sufficient," prioritizing the immediate public interest in expanded connectivity.