The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites.
With the approval, SpaceX is now authorized to operate up to 15,000 Starlink satellites worldwide.
The FCC also cleared SpaceX to upgrade its Gen2 satellites, operate across five frequency bands, and lift previous restrictions that limited overlapping coverage. According to the agency, the additional satellites will support direct-to-cell connectivity outside the U.S., provide supplemental coverage domestically, and enable next-generation mobile services with internet speeds reaching up to 1 Gbps.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr called the approval a “game-changer,” saying it would boost competition and help bring high-speed internet to underserved communities. However, the FCC stopped short of approving SpaceX’s full request for nearly 30,000 satellites, saying the remaining Gen2 satellites will be reviewed later, especially those planned for higher orbits.
SpaceX must meet strict deployment deadlines, including launching half of the newly approved Gen2 satellites by December 2028 and completing the rest by December 2031. The company is also required to finish deploying its first-generation satellites by November 2027. Earlier, Starlink announced plans to lower satellite orbits in 2026 to improve space safety.
Today, SpaceX remains the world’s largest satellite operator, with roughly 9,400 active satellites delivering broadband worldwide.
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