The FCC has approved a request by SpaceX’s Starlink to make changes to its constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The ruling is a setback to Starlink competitors such as Viasat and Amazon, which had argued against the changes, as well to Dish Network.
Dish has been urging the FCC to reject the requests by SpaceX to modify its satellite operations as Dish wants to be allowed to operate 5G in its 12 GHz spectrum, – the same band in which SpaceX will run some of its expanded LEO satellite Internet services.
“Dish reiterates its request that any grant of SpaceX’s … modification should exclude the 12GHz band,” Dish wrote in a recent filing.
But the FCC wrote: “We grant subject to the conditions set forth herein the application of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) for modification of its license for a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed-satellite service (FSS) constellation.” SpaceX requested a number of changes to its LEO satellites, including lowering their altitude from around 680 miles above Earth’s surface to around 335 miles. The agency said SpaceX can continue to use the 12 GHz band for its operations though it has not shut the door on allowing 5G in that band in future.
“We recently released the 12 GHz NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking], which assesses the potential for terrestrial 5G use of the band,” the FCC wrote. “We decline to prejudge any aspects of the 12 GHz rulemaking proceeding by either commenting on the ability of terrestrial and satellite operators to share spectrum in the frequency band more generally, or by denying the requested modification that would include authorization to use the 12.2-12.7 GHz band.”