SpaceX gets Aussie clearance
February 5, 2020
By Chris Forrester
Australia’s communications regulator has cleared Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite-by-broadband service to operate over Australian airspace.
Australia’s Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) added SpaceX to the Radiocommunications (Foreign Space Objects) Determination which regulates the satellite companies which can operate in Australia.
Existing satellite operator Foxtel has objected, saying that it has high levels of concern given that SpaceX (and another approved operator Kepler) are using the same satellite frequencies already in use by Foxtel.
Australia also has a well-established broadband by satellite operator in the shape of its government-backed NBN which serves almost 100,000 customers in mostly rural locations.