SpaceX plans new 15,000 satellites for mobile communications from space

SpaceX pursues large plans for mobile phone connections from space in the USA. A few weeks after the planned takeover of satellite frequencies from Echostar an application provided to the US telecommunications authority FCC. In it, the operator of the Starlink satellite internet service requires permission to bring 15,000 satellites for direct-to-cell services into space.

With the frequency spectrum, SpaceX wants to enable transfers of language and text, but also offer broadband internet. The offer should be aimed primarily at areas that are not developed by terrestrial services. People who are in these areas should be able to use a complete 5G mobile radio connection via smartphones that are provided via the satellites. This should be able to offer a similar use experience as terrestrial LTE services.

Satellites should go into space by 2030

According to the application, SpaceX wants to use D2C satellites of the next generation, which have a 20-fold throughput capacity than the first generation. These are to be positioned at a height of 326 to 355 kilometers. The total of 15,000 satellites could handle D2C services for over a billion people. A time frame will be sought by 2030 if the FCC will be approved by mid -2026. The company currently has over 650 direct-to-cell satellites in orbit.

In this context, industry observers arise as to whether SpaceX will look for cooperation with other network operators, as is already the case with Starlink in the USA with T-Mobile. Or whether SpaceX may even bring out your own Starlink Phone. Apple could play a major role. The iPhone manufacturer has already offered satellite services for its smartphones and recently the Apple Watch Ultra 3. For this, Apple has received a partnership with global star.

First of all, Apple would have to create the technical requirements in the iPhones to use the frequency spectrum newly acquired by SpaceX. However, some consider it possible that Apple even turns his back on global star and is looking for the end of the shoulder with SpaceX to use its offer. If Apple and SpaceX do not agree on a cooperation, SpaceX’s ownership could become more likely.

Purchase amount of $ 17 billion

The FCC must still be approved to take over the Echostar frequencies by SpaceX. Buyers and sellers have agreed a total of $ 17 billion for the blocks in the 2-gigahertz spectrum. Half of this transaction should be paid in cash and for the other half in SpaceX shares.