The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is giving SpaceX the green light to provide broadband access by satellite.
“With this action, the Commission takes another step to increase high-speed broadband availability and competition in the United States,” the FCC said in a statement Thursday. “This is the first approval of a U.S.-licensed satellite constellation to provide broadband services using a new generation of low-Earth orbit satellite technologies.”
In its application, Elon Musk’s aerospace company said it plans to use a constellation of 4,425 low-orbit satellites to beam broadband down to Earth.
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“We appreciate the FCC’s thorough review and approval of SpaceX’s constellation license,” SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement.
“Although we still have much to do with this complex undertaking, this is an important step toward SpaceX building a next-generation satellite network that can link the globe with reliable and affordable broadband service, especially reaching those who are not yet connected.”
The company has mostly been tight-lipped about the project, known as Starlink. Last month, it launched its first two demonstration satellites into orbit.