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FCC Approves SpaceX Gateways for Faster Starlink Internet
13 Nov
Summary
- SpaceX Starlink received FCC approval for 36 next-gen gateway stations.
- These stations will enable gigabit speeds and low-latency broadband.
- Iridium's interference concerns were withdrawn after coordination with SpaceX.
SpaceX has received full approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate 36 next-generation gateway stations for its Starlink satellite internet service. These crucial ground-based stations, located in states like California, Colorado, and Texas, will connect Starlink's orbiting satellites to fiber networks, enabling gigabit speeds.
The new gateways are engineered to harness additional radio waves, delivering "gigabit-speed, low-latency broadband" and "fiber-like capacity." This upgrade is vital for SpaceX's V3 satellites, with hundreds more planned to be in orbit by mid-2025. The FCC's decision followed an initial objection from Iridium regarding potential interference with its satellite network.
Iridium ultimately withdrew its petitions, citing achievable coordination with SpaceX to prevent interference. The FCC addressed this dispute, concluding that SpaceX demonstrated its proposed stations would not cause unacceptable interference to authorized satellite networks. While not all gateway applications were granted, SpaceX already had temporary authority to operate many of these next-gen facilities.
