In a significant regulatory victory for SpaceX, the Federal Communications Commission has approved a waiver for “aggregate out-of-band emissions” that will substantially enhance the capabilities of the company’s cellular Starlink network. Decision permits SpaceX to operate beyond standard radio emission limits, opening the door for more robust services like voice calls rather than just text messaging.
The FCC’s waiver addresses a critical technical constraint that had limited the cellular Starlink system’s potential. Under previous regulations, the “aggregation of all space station downlink emissions” couldn’t exceed a power flux density of -120 dBW/m2/MHz, which would have forced SpaceX to either reduce the number of active radio beams on each satellite or decrease their power output, check out FCC pdf files.
SpaceX and T-Mobile had been actively lobbying for this change, arguing that without it, the cellular Starlink system would effectively be restricted to functioning as “a text service” only, (T-Mobile launches Starlink beta direct-to-cell satellite service registration). The higher emission allowance will enable the satellites to deliver sufficient power for real-time voice calls and potentially other more data-intensive applications.
Despite opposition from competing carriers, the FCC determined there was “good cause to waive the rule,” citing SpaceX’s technical analysis demonstrating that exceeding standard emission limits wouldn’t cause harmful interference. However, the commission has implemented important restrictions:
- The waiver only applies within “the 5 megahertz band segments immediately adjacent to the PCS G Block (1900MHz block)” where SpaceX operates
- If any radio interference does occur, SpaceX “must immediately adjust its operations to meet the limits”
- The company can no longer operate under the waiver if interference issues arise
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed support for the decision, stating: “We issued an order at the FCC today that allows Starlink’s direct-to-cell service to operate at higher power – enabling faster, more reliable, & innovative new services for consumers across the country. The FCC will continue the work of unleashing America’s space economy.”
FCC today that allows Starlink’s direct-to-cell service to operate at higher power
Ben Longmier, Senior Director of Satellite Engineering at SpaceX, welcomed the development: “Thank you FCC for the welcome update to out of band emissions limits for our Starlink Direct to Cell service in partnership with T-Mobile. This will ensure that Americans have the best quality and most reliable service to their phones from space, and sets a good precedent for all other countries.”
The waiver wasn’t granted without controversy. AT&T and Verizon urged the FCC to reject SpaceX’s request, claiming that raising emission limits could interfere with their ground-based networks. The opposition extended internationally, with a group of European telecommunication companies threatening legal action if the FCC ruled favorably for SpaceX.
Currently, the cellular Starlink network only supports SMS messaging in areas without traditional cellular coverage. However, this FCC waiver clears a significant hurdle for SpaceX’s plans to expand into data downloads and voice calling through the system.
The commission’s decision reflects its interest in fostering innovation in the emerging satellite-to-phone market. As the FCC noted, “SCS [supplemental coverage from space] service is at a nascent stage of development, and we find that strict application of the rule risks hindering the widespread deployment of this particular SCS network.”
For consumers in remote areas or regions with limited cellular infrastructure, this regulatory shift could eventually translate to much more comprehensive connectivity options through the cellular Starlink network – a change that might truly make the stars align for global communication.
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