- Published 2026.10.12 11:01
FCC partially approves SpaceX direct-to-device satellite deployment
First network operator to hold both satellite and terrestrial spectrum emerges
SpaceX has become the first network operator to hold both satellite and terrestrial spectrum, challenging the existing mobile communications market.
According to a Eugene Investment & Securities report on Oct. 12, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Oct. 7 (local time) partially approved SpaceX's application to deploy 15,000 next-generation direct-to-device (D2D) satellites. The approval came about a year after the application was filed in September 2025.
The approved satellite constellation will be placed in nine orbital planes at an altitude of around 330 kilometers. This will allow SpaceX to provide not only mobile satellite services (MSS) in the United States but also supplemental coverage from space (SCS) services, which apply terrestrial mobile spectrum to satellites.
In particular, SpaceX received an exemption from existing SCS rules that require leasing spectrum from terrestrial mobile carriers. By directly holding terrestrial communications licenses acquired from EchoStar, it became the first network operator to own both satellite and terrestrial spectrum.
However, the FCC attached some conditions. The spectrum bands SpaceX acquired from EchoStar can only be fully used after November 2027, when the second phase of the transaction closes. Until then, only testing during launch and initial orbital operations is permitted.
SpaceX is expected to accelerate deployment of Starlink V2 mobile satellites in line with Starship commercialization after 2027. These satellites are designed to go beyond limited services such as text messaging to directly provide broadband data and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity to regular smartphones.
Immediately after the FCC approval, SpaceX announced it would purchase additional low-band mobile spectrum. Low-band spectrum has high building penetration and can improve indoor communication quality, a move seen as aimed at competing with major mobile carriers.
Eugene Investment & Securities said in the report, "The service boundary between terrestrial and satellite communications is blurring over time." It added, "This is a long-term threat to existing mobile carriers, but it opens new demand across the D2D value chain, including satellite components and terrestrial infrastructure."
※ This article is an AI translation of the Korean original published by Korea Credit News; it was checked by automated quality guards and published by the English edition desk.
