SpaceX has filed for 50 MHz of spectrum and authorization to add up to 15,000 Starlink satellites, a bid to extend the network into direct-to-mobile services and blunt competition from Apple and carrier-backed rivals. The move expands Starlink's planned radio and orbital footprint at scale.
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SpaceX is seeking 50 MHz of spectrum and authorization for up to 15,000 additional satellites, a materially larger radio and orbital footprint that directly targets the emerging direct-to-phone market and changes capacity planning for LEO broadband.
The filing follows SpaceX's broader spectrum strategy, including a major purchase tied to EchoStar, and arrives as rivals like Project Kuiper move from deployment to commercial sales (Kuiper recently exceeded 100 satellites), sharpening competition for airline, enterprise and government customers.
The scale of the request intensifies concerns over orbital congestion and regulatory oversight; astronomers and regulators are pressing for clear rules on mega-constellations, and recent Starlink outages that left 43,000+ U.S. users offline highlight operational and resilience implications.
EchoStar spectrum sale | Project Kuiper passing 100 satellites | astronomers urging rules for mega-constellations | Starlink outage left 43,000+ users offline
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Ars Technica
• Jon Brodkin