TAMPA, Fla. SpaceX has secured conditional approval to use extremely high-frequency E-band radio waves to improve the capacity of its low Earth orbit Starlink broadband constellation. <\/p>\n
The Federal Communications Commission said March 8 it is allowing SpaceX to use E-band frequencies between second-generation Starlink satellites and gateways on the ground, alongside already approved spectrum in the Ka and Ku bands. <\/p>\n
Specifically, SpaceX is now also permitted to communicate between 71 and 76 gigahertz from space to Earth, and 81-86 GHz Earth-to-space, using the up to 7,500 Gen2 satellites SpaceX is allowed to deploy. <\/p>\n
SpaceX has plans for 30,000 Gen2 satellites, on top of the 4,400 Gen1 satellites already authorized by the FCC. <\/p>\n
However, the FCC deferred action in December 2022 on whether to allow SpaceX to deploy the other three-quarters of its Gen2 constellation, which includes spacecraft closer to Earth to improve broadband speeds. <\/p>\n
The regulator also deferred action at the time on SpaceXs plans to use E-band frequencies, citing a need to first establish ground rules for using them in space. <\/p>\n
In a March 8 regulatory filing, the FCC said it found SpaceXs proposed operations in the E-band present no new or increased frequency conflicts with other satellite operations. <\/p>\n
But the order comes with multiple conditions, including potentially forcing SpaceX to modify operations if another satellite operator also seeks to use the radio waves. <\/p>\n
Starlink satellites use Ku-band to connect user terminals. In October, the FCC allowed SpaceX to also provide fixed-satellite services from Gen2 spacecraft using V-band spectrum, which like E-band is also extremely high frequency (EHF) and in its commercial infancy. <\/p>\n
Higher frequency spectrum bands promise more bandwidth and throughput as they become increasingly subject to weather attenuation and other issues. <\/p>\n
Last year, SpaceX said using E-band radio waves for backhaul would enable Starlink Gen2 to provide about four times more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations, without elaborating. <\/p>\n
There are currently around 1900 Starlink satellites launched under the Gen2 license in orbit, according to spacecraft tracker and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell about two-thirds of these satellites are significantly larger and more powerful than Gen1 but smaller than full-scale versions slated to launch on SpaceXs Starship vehicle. Around 3,600 separate satellites in orbit are classed as Gen1. <\/p>\n
The FCC continues to defer action over whether to allow SpaceX to deploy the other 22,500 satellites in its proposed Gen2 constellation. <\/p>\n
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SpaceX gets E-band radio waves to boost Starlink broadband - SpaceNews<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TAMPA, Fla. SpaceX has secured conditional approval to use extremely high-frequency E-band radio waves to improve the capacity of its low Earth orbit Starlink broadband constellation Continue reading