The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX’s request to launch an additional 7,500 satellites for the second generation of the “Starlink” network, bringing the total number of satellites in the network to nearly fifteen thousand.
This decision aims to increase the spread of ultra-high-speed satellite internet service and allow satellites to operate on five different frequency bands, paving the way for direct connection to mobile phones outside the United States, in addition to improving coverage within it.
In a related context, Reuters reported that the Communications Committee had postponed a decision on SpaceX’s request to launch an additional 14,988 satellites of the same generation, as part of a broader plan that the company had submitted.
According to regulatory requirements, the committee has tasked the company with launching 50% of the approved satellites by December 2028, with the remainder to be completed before the end of 2031.
