FCC Approves SpaceX’s Expansion of Starlink Constellation with 7,500 Additional Satellites

The Federal Communications Commission has authorized SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, doubling the company's approved constellation to 15,000 units. This partial approval represents half of SpaceX's proposed 30,000-satellite network for global broadband coverage.

SpaceX faces strict deployment deadlines, requiring half of the authorized satellites to be operational by December 2028, with full deployment mandated by December 2031. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailed the decision as "a game-changer for enabling next-generation services," noting the approval includes technical upgrades for operation across five frequency bands.

The enhanced constellation will deliver direct-to-cell connectivity internationally while supplementing U.S. coverage, promising fiber-optic comparable speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. This expansion aims to eliminate connectivity gaps, particularly in underserved communities.