SpaceX wants extra spectrum for mobile services
July 28, 2022
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for more spectrum to be allocated to its Starlink system, and in particular the 2 GHz band, which it says is needed to augment its existing mobile satellite services.
David Goldman, SpaceX’s senior director of satellite policy, told the FCC in his formal application that SpaceX’s “next-generation services for mobile users” would operate with ground to satellite latency below 50 milliseconds.
SpaceX is seen as wanting to add new payloads to future Starlink satellites which would handle 2 GHz communications, targeting rural and underserved communities.
“Americans are increasingly demanding connectivity wherever they are whenever they want, and whatever they are doing,” Goldman said in his letter. “In particular, they have grown accustomed to being able to connect using small, hand-held devices that they can carry with them or affix to mobile platforms.”