Overview
- The authorization covers operations in low Earth orbit between roughly 340 and 485 kilometers with inclinations of 28 to 96.9 degrees, and it permits relocating previously approved spacecraft to 475–485 kilometers.
- Gen2 satellites may operate across five bands from 10.7 to 30 GHz at higher power levels, enabling up to 1 gigabit per second service, direct‑to‑cell outside the United States, and supplemental mobile coverage in the U.S.
- SpaceX must deploy 50% of the newly authorized Gen2 fleet by December 1, 2028 and the remainder by December 2031, and it must complete its first‑generation deployment by late November 2027.
- The FCC granted a time‑limited waiver of EPFD limits and said observed Gen2 performance eases collision‑risk concerns, noting two disposal failures in the first year versus six in Gen1’s first year.
- Approval remains partial, with about 14,988 additional satellites deferred for now pending in‑orbit testing and safety review, as rivals including Viasat and Globalstar continue to press interference and competition objections.