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SpaceX has received FCC authorization to launch and operate a 15,000‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit network that will power its Starlink Mobile service, a direct‑to‑device platform aimed at competing with traditional U.S. carriers. The new constellation, orbiting as low as 326 km, is slated to deliver 5G‑grade speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user, a dramatic upgrade from the current 4 Mbps service provided by the 650‑satellite version.
The approval also clears the use of spectrum acquired from EchoStar, enabling both mobile satellite services (MSS) and supplemental coverage from space (SCS). The FCC highlighted that the deployment will improve competition, expand consumer choice, and serve the public interest. SpaceX executives, including Gwynne Shotwell, claim the next‑gen system could be “100 times better” than the existing network and expect to begin launching the second‑generation satellites next year with commercial service available by the end of that year. [[1, 2]]