GoKawiil
Tech News
SpaceX said the FCC has approved deployment of 15,000 next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites optimized for 2 GHz spectrum, offering over 100 times the bandwidth of the current fleet. The company also applied for a nationwide low-band spectrum license intended to improve signal penetration through walls and buildings, though that approval is still pending.
SpaceX announced a deal to acquire all of Grain Management's nationwide 800 MHz low-band spectrum licenses, covering up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum, pending FCC approval. The company says this follows its earlier acquisition of spectrum from EchoStar and will let Starlink Mobile signals penetrate walls and other obstacles, something its satellite-only service cannot currently do well indoors.
Elon Musk publicly questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the 'real boss of India,' a day after blaming unnamed 'oligarchs' for stalling Starlink's entry into the Indian market despite five years of regulatory compliance. Ambani's Jio and rival Airtel control roughly 80% of India's telecom market. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi responded with a jab referencing billionaire Gautam Adani, prompting Musk to call the exchange 'troubling.'
At the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey, SpaceX Starlink VP and xAI president Michael Nicolls called for satellite operators to exchange more information on spacecraft locations and trajectories to avoid collisions. Starlink now operates over 11,000 satellites, roughly two-thirds of all active spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, with Amazon, China and SpaceX's planned Starmind constellation adding thousands more in coming years.
SpaceX announced a deal to acquire a nationwide spectrum license portfolio, covering up to 14 megahertz of paired low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz range, from digital infrastructure firm Grain Management. The agreement still requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Elon Musk called it a 'very big deal' on X, while SpaceX said the spectrum fills a key technical gap for its Starlink Mobile service.
SpaceX has acquired low-band spectrum licenses, including up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band, to support Starlink Mobile's growth into a full-fledged US wireless carrier. The company says this spectrum will improve signal penetration through walls and buildings, building on its earlier acquisition of 2GHz spectrum from EchoStar. The FCC has also approved SpaceX's plan to deploy 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites offering more bandwidth than current models.
American Airlines has expanded its SpaceX Starlink Wi-Fi deal from 500 aircraft to its full mainline fleet of over 1,030 planes, with installation beginning next year. The service uses Starlink's Performance Aero Terminal, offering speeds up to 1Gbps for American's more than 165 million annual passengers.
Elon Musk publicly accused unnamed 'oligarchs' of blocking Starlink's entry into India to protect a monopoly, then directly asked whether Reliance's Mukesh Ambani is 'the real boss of India.' India's Ministry of Communications rejected the claims, saying Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are at the same regulatory stage and all face mandatory security assessments before receiving spectrum.
India's Ministry of Communications responded to Elon Musk's accusations that regulatory barriers are unfairly blocking Starlink's entry into the country. The ministry stated that all satellite operators, including Starlink, are subject to the same regulatory procedures and security assessments before obtaining spectrum licenses. Despite years of efforts and partnerships with local telecom firms, Starlink has yet to commence commercial services in India, which has over a billion internet users.
Elon Musk has claimed that powerful Indian telecom companies are preventing Starlink from launching in India to maintain their market dominance. He stated that this interference is a 'crime against the people of India' and highlighted the country's telecom market being controlled by Jio and Airtel, which together hold over 80% of the market. Despite plans announced last year, Starlink has yet to begin service in India.
The US Federal Communications Commission announced plans to auction 25 MHz of mid-band spectrum, revise rules for direct-to-device communications, and permit drones to operate on the 800MHz band. These proposals aim to enhance wireless connectivity options and expand drone capabilities, pending a vote later this month. The agency also approved SpaceX's satellite system at 330 km altitude, adding to its existing Starlink constellation.
The FCC approved SpaceX's application, filed in September 2025, to launch up to 15,000 satellites for a new Starlink Mobile system orbiting at 326-335 km. Regulators also waived the requirement that SpaceX lease spectrum from a terrestrial carrier, letting it use its own spectrum plus frequencies acquired from EchoStar and T-Mobile. This is separate from the 15,000-satellite Gen2 Starlink broadband constellation approved in January, bringing SpaceX's combined authorized satellites to 30,000.