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FCC to vote on auctioning 'prime spectrum' for satellite-to-phone services, benefiting SpaceX and Amazon

Proposals include 25MHz auction and up to 482MHz for supplemental coverage from space; drone restrictions also on agenda.

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced Wednesday it will vote on a proposal to auction 25 megahertz of prime spectrum to support direct-to-device (D2D) services connecting satellites to smartphones, a move that could benefit companies like SpaceX and Amazon. The commission also plans to vote on Oct. 29 to seek public comment on making an additional 482MHz of spectrum available for supplemental coverage from space and modernizing rules for D2D services in licensed spectrum.

The FCC, in a press release, said the two proposals could benefit companies such as SpaceX and Amazon, which have been moving to expand D2D services with satellite networks. On Tuesday, the FCC's Space Bureau granted an application for SpaceX's new direct-to-cell system of 15,000 satellites.

Amazon in July asked the FCC to approve launching up to 5,105 internet satellites as part of a constellation to provide direct-to-device connectivity, targeting users who are "unserved or underserved" by existing wireless providers, according to a company filing. In August, Amazon said it would acquire Globalstar in a deal worth more than $11.5 billion to boost its Leo satellite internet business.

A third proposal to be voted on "would eliminate an outdated restriction that prevents drone operations in the 800 MHz Cellular band," the FCC said.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The auction and spectrum allocation could accelerate deployment of satellite-to-phone services, potentially expanding mobile coverage to remote and rural areas worldwide.
  • The decision shapes the competitive landscape for new space-based communication services, with major implications for companies like SpaceX and Amazon as they build satellite constellations.
  • Modernizing D2D rules and freeing spectrum for drones could unlock new commercial and emergency response applications.

Background

The FCC is considering making more radiofrequency spectrum available for satellite-based direct-to-device services, which allow standard smartphones to connect to satellites for messaging, calls, and data when out of range of terrestrial towers. Both SpaceX, through its Starlink system, and Amazon, through its Kuiper project, are developing large low-Earth orbit satellite networks. The commission has been updating its rules to keep pace with these new technologies.

Key Perspectives

SpaceX and Amazon: These companies stand to gain from access to new spectrum, enabling them to offer expanded D2D services to customers and compete with traditional mobile carriers. Existing wireless providers: Traditional telecom companies could face new competition for subscribers in underserved areas, potentially pressuring pricing and investment. Drone operators: The elimination of outdated restrictions in the 800 MHz band could open new opportunities for commercial and public safety drone operations.

What to Watch

  • The FCC vote on the 25MHz auction proposal, expected soon.
  • The Oct. 29 vote to open public comment on the 482MHz proposal and D2D rule modernization.
  • Responses from wireless carriers and satellite companies during the comment period.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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