SpaceX Gains FCC Approval for Expanded Starlink Gen2 Constellation

SpaceX has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of authorized Gen2 spacecraft to 15,000. This decision marks a significant step in the expansion of SpaceX’s next-generation satellite internet service and its potential to deliver enhanced broadband capabilities globally.

FCC Authorization and Timeline

The FCC granted authorization on January 9, 2026, for the deployment and operation of the additional 7,500 Gen2 satellites . This follows an initial approval three years prior for another 7,500 Gen2 satellites. SpaceX has proposed a total constellation of 29,988 satellites across various low Earth orbits, but the FCC is authorizing deployment in stages .

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that authorizing 15,000 new satellites will “deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition and help ensure that no community is left behind” .

Orbital Parameters and Satellite Features

The newly authorized satellites will operate in orbits between 340 and 485 kilometers, with inclinations ranging from 28 to 96.9 degrees. The approval too includes existing satellites operating at 525 and 535 kilometers, which SpaceX plans to relocate to lower orbits, specifically between 475 and 485 kilometers .

The FCC described the new satellites as featuring “advanced form factors” differing from earlier Starlink spacecraft, though specific details were not disclosed. SpaceX intends to begin deploying larger V3 satellites in 2026 using its Starship launch vehicle, with each satellite capable of providing over one terabit per second of downlink capacity .

Spectrum Access and Upload Speed Improvements

SpaceX has requested permission from the FCC to add support for the 13.75 to 14.0GHz and 14.5 to 14.8GHz bands to its satellite internet hardware . The FCC has already cleared SpaceX to employ this spectrum for Earth-to-space transmissions (uploads) as part of its upgrade to gigabit speeds. However, current regulations require a minimum antenna diameter of 4.5 meters to operate in the 13.75 to 14.0 GHz band, exceeding the size of existing Starlink dishes, necessitating a waiver from the FCC .

SpaceX filed seven requests to use the spectrum across its product line, including the current Starlink dish, Starlink Mini, the second-generation dish, and the original circular dish . The company argues that utilizing this spectrum will address the “4:1 imbalance between downlink and uplink spectrum in the Ku-band,” leading to more symmetrical broadband speeds and supporting data-intensive applications like videoconferencing .

Deployment Requirements

SpaceX is required to launch 50% of the authorized Gen2 satellites and place them in their assigned orbits by December 1, 2028, with the remaining satellites to be launched by December 2031 . The company must also complete the deployment of its 7,500 first-generation satellites by late November 2027 .