SpaceX can deploy 7,500 more Starlink Gen2 satellites with FCC approval

The Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy 7,500 more Starlink Gen2 Satellitesallowing the company to launch 15,000 in total. It also allowed SpaceX to upgrade its Gen2 satellites with “advanced form factors and cutting-edge technology,” to operate on more frequencies and add more orbital hulls to optimize coverage and performance. The approval will give a boost to the company’s fleet and enable it to offer internet and mobile services in more regions around the world. The satellites will also allow SpaceX to offer “direct connectivity to cells outside the United States and additional coverage” within the United States.

In the United States, SpaceX has a partnership with T-Mobilewhich allows its subscribers to access satellite-telephone services. It allows subscribers to send text messages and access compatible applications even in remote locations. The companies also plan to deploy satellite voice calls in the future.

As Ars Technica note, the FCC announcement comes after SpaceX revealed that it moved 4,400 satellites from an altitude of 341 miles to 298 miles to reduce the risk of collision. SpaceX initially requested permission to deploy 29,988 second-generation Starlinks in 2020, but the FCC only granted it authorization for 7,500 in 2022. At the time, the commission said it was granting SpaceX limited approval to help maintain a safe space environment due to concerns about orbital debris.