Starlink’s download speeds have long outpaced its upload capabilities, and SpaceX isn’t ignoring that gap. The company has filed a request with the FCC to add support for two additional radio frequency bands — 13.75 to 14.0GHz and 14.5 to 14.8GHz — across its satellite internet hardware lineup. It’s a calculated regulatory move, and one that could meaningfully shift the broadband experience for millions of subscribers.
FCC has already authorized SpaceX to use these bands for Earth-to-space transmissions as part of its broader gigabit upgrade push. The catch? Current FCC rules require a minimum antenna diameter of 4.5 meters to operate within the 13.75 to 14.0GHz band — far exceeding the size of any existing Starlink dish. SpaceX is now seeking a waiver to bypass that restriction across seven product filings, covering the standard dish, Starlink Mini, the second-gen model, and even the discontinued first-gen circular unit.
The company argues in its filing that this spectrum access would help correct what it describes as a “4:1 imbalance between downlink and uplink spectrum in the Ku-band.” Addressing that imbalance, SpaceX contends, would unlock more symmetrical broadband speeds and better support data-intensive real-time applications, including videoconferencing.
Will existing hardware benefit from SpaceX wants the FCC to fix Starlink’s upload problem? That’s the critical business question here. Currently, Starlink upload speeds sit between 20 and 40Mbps, modest figures compared to its download performance. SpaceX noted that its user terminals, “as modified,” would comply with radiation exposure limits, hinting that hardware changes may be necessary. Whether those changes are firmware-level or require physical upgrades remains unclear; SpaceX hasn’t commented publicly.
Worth noting: FCC cleared SpaceX in January to operate the Starlink network at elevated power levels, download speeds typically hover around 200Mbps, signaling that performance improvements for existing users aren’t out of the question. Inclusion of legacy dish models in the waiver requests does raise optimism that the upload boost won’t be gated behind new equipment purchases.
Gigabit speeds are still reserved for enterprise-tier hardware, but if this filing succeeds, everyday Starlink users could finally get upload performance that’s worth uploading about.
Related Post
SpaceX Files to Launch 1 Million Satellites as Orbital AI Data Centers, FCC Application
SpaceX Secures FCC Approval to Boost Starlink Dish Power for Enhanced Internet Speeds
SpaceX Starlink Hits 9M Customers With Record Growth, Satellite Internet Expansion