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.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-08
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.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-07
The Federal Communications Commission announced it will hold a vote on October 29 to auction 25 megahertz of spectrum aimed at supporting satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. Additionally, the FCC will consider proposals to free up 482MHz for satellite coverage and update rules for direct-to-device services, potentially benefiting companies like SpaceX and Amazon. A third measure seeks to remove restrictions on drone operations within the 800 MHz cellular band.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-07
A seasoned professional recounts their experience switching careers at 30 and highlights the lack of support from close ones. They emphasize that career changes, especially in tech, are challenging and often met with discouragement, particularly during times of rapid AI-driven industry shifts. The article offers advice on seeking mentorship and understanding the realities of transitioning into new roles or industries.
spectrum.ieee.org
· 2026-10-07
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.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-07
Scientists reported experimental evidence of 'critical topology'—topological features existing at the boundary between phases rather than within stable phases—using engineered phononic crystals. They characterized gapless topological states through entanglement spectrum and entanglement wavefunction analysis in both one- and two-dimensional systems, and directly imaged topological boundary modes within a gapless bulk continuum.
nature.com
· 2026-10-07
A developer completed a project demonstrating high-quality digital audio playback through the ZX Spectrum's basic 1-bit beeper speaker, present on every model of the machine. The technique was verified working on original 48K hardware, a modern Omni 128 clone, and multiple emulators including Fuse, EightyOne, Zesarux, Spectaculator and Clock Signal.
bumbershootsoft.wordpress.com
· 2026-09-27
IEEE Spectrum's careers newsletter, produced with Parsity, argues that AI tools function as multipliers rather than substitutes for human skill, meaning novices without foundational knowledge tend to produce low-quality 'slop.' The piece identifies writing as one of three skills workers should prioritize, arguing that clear writing improves both communication with AI models and the development of original ideas.
spectrum.ieee.org
· 2026-09-23
A developer has built ZX Desk, a full graphical desktop environment for the 1982 ZX Spectrum 48K, written entirely in Z80 assembly. It supports overlapping resizable windows with z-ordering, pull-down menus, a file manager, notepad, calendar, clock and settings panel, all running within the machine's 48K memory and real-time frame budget, on actual hardware rather than an emulator.
github.com
· 2026-09-19
A tech reviewer who had been happily using Visible switched to Spectrum Mobile after being offered two unlimited lines plus 1Gbps home internet for $100 a month total. After roughly four months of activation errors, a broken eSIM setup, and unhelpful live chat support, he canceled the service and returned to Visible.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
At the first International Space Summit in Paris on September 10, European leaders including Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron called for the continent to build its own launch and crewed spaceflight capacity rather than relying on NASA and firms like SpaceX. The event took on added significance after reports that the White House discouraged US companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin from attending, which one former satellite executive called a wake-up call.
nature.com
· 2026-09-18
Charter's Spectrum brand has finished absorbing Cox, with former Cox customers now billed by Spectrum starting Wednesday. The deal, agreed in May 2025, cleared its last regulatory hurdle after the California Public Utilities Commission approved it last month, giving Charter over 35 million customers nationwide.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-16
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