Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted SpaceX permission to use its Starlink satellite Internet system on moving vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats and planes. It’s a big win for SpaceX’s Starlink system, which can open up service to a more diverse range of use cases and customers.
SpaceX sought FCC regulatory approval in March last year to allow Starlink Terminals from Moving Earth Stations (ESIM) terminals to be used in moving vehicles. To access the system and receive broadband Internet coverage, customers must purchase a personal ground antenna, or a user terminal, designed to connect to any orbiting Starlink satellite in above. Until now, these dishes had to remain in a fixed place in order to access the system.
Now, the FCC has granted the request for SpaceX, as well as that of another satellite company, Kepler Communications, paving the way for a new class of user terminals that can connect to satellites. broadband as they move. In doing so, the FCC opted to deny a request from Dish Network that it intended to prevent companies from using the frequency in the 12 GHz band. However, the FCC will continue to conduct analysis as it moves forward with the formulation of rules on the presence of ESIM devices in the 12 GHz band and said Kepler and SpaceX will be subject to future rules they set.
The FCC argues that approving the new capability is in the public interest. “We agree with SpaceX and Kepler that the public interest will benefit by conditional granting their applications,” the FCC wrote in its June 30 release. “Authorizing a new class of terminals for SpaceX’s satellite system will expand the range of broadband capabilities to meet the growing demands of users who now require connectivity while moving, whether driving an RV for everything the country, transporting a cargo ship from Europe to a port in the United States, or on a domestic or international flight. “
Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious initiative to launch a constellation of thousands of satellites into low and medium Earth orbit in order to provide low-latency broadband coverage to Earth. The company has more than 2,400 satellites in orbit so far, and after coming out of beta testing late last year, the company recently boasted of having 400,000 users. Customers who want to order Starlink must purchase the kit, which includes a user terminal, for $ 599 and then pay a monthly fee of $ 110.
SpaceX has made it clear that it wants to expand Starlink beyond customers ’residential use, however. The company has been negotiating with several airlines over the use of the Starlink Internet service and has agreements with Hawaiian Airlines and the private jet service JSX to begin offering Internet connectivity to its aircraft over the next two years. In addition, Starlink has just launched a new special level of service for RVs, which allows users to connect to Starlink satellites from various locations, such as campgrounds or vacation cabins, without an assigned “home” address. for an additional fee. Although, at the time of the announcement, subscribers could not use the dishes while their RVs or vans were moving.