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FCC Unlocks Faster Satellite Broadband Speeds
2 May
Summary
- FCC modernized satellite spectrum rules, boosting capacity.
- Old rules limited signal strength from low-Earth orbit satellites.
- New rules promise faster speeds and potentially lower costs.
Federal regulators have approved a significant overhaul of satellite internet regulations, enabling an upgrade to services. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on Thursday to modernize its spectrum-sharing rules for satellites.
This decision abandons a decades-old restriction that limited the signal transmission strength of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The previous Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) framework, established in the late 1990s, aimed to prevent interference with geostationary orbit (GSO) satellites but capped LEO satellite energy output.
SpaceX, a major operator of LEO satellite constellations, had argued the existing rules hindered next-generation services. Conversely, companies like Viasat, operating GSO satellites, expressed concerns about increased interference and potential market monopolization.
The FCC's updated rules, based on tests demonstrating minimal interference increases, are projected to boost satellite broadband capacity by up to sevenfold. This enhancement is expected to result in faster speeds, improved reliability, and potentially lower costs for consumers.
Companies like Amazon with its Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile are also poised to benefit, as the modernized rules support their efforts to expand internet access to underserved rural and remote areas.
