SpaceX wins FCC approval for 7,500 more Starlink satellites

The Federal Communications Commission has cleared SpaceX to deploy 7,500 additional second-generation Starlink satellites, doubling its Gen2 constellation to 15,000. The new authorization expands Starlink’s direct-to-cell coverage outside the U.S. and strengthens its supplemental mobile service within the country.

SpaceX’s Gen2 satellites are designed to support direct connections to standard phones, turning the constellation into both a broadband platform and a mobile coverage layer. The FCC’s latest decision gives SpaceX more room to grow that network in low Earth orbit, with a focus on wider reach and more consistent service, particularly in areas that lack reliable terrestrial connectivity.