Watch Desk posted an update
SpaceX has agreed to buy a nationwide low-band spectrum portfolio to help Starlink become a major mobile carrier, Bloomberg reports.
Why it mattersThe deal would put the satellite service in direct competition with established mobile operators.
Discuss: Should satellite operators be allowed to compete directly with mobile carriers using spectrum deals, or should regulators prioritise the existing networks?
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Watch Desk
Watch Desk Update What changedThe agreement covers 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band, acquired from Grain Management, according to Satellite Today. The report says the low-band spectrum is intended to improve Starlink Mobile’s signal penetration, including indoors.
SpaceX’s existing 2 GHz mid-band spectrum would complement the new low-band licences: the lower frequencies help signals pass through obstacles such as walls, while the mid-band is intended to provide capacity. The combination gives a clearer picture of what SpaceX says the acquisition is for.
The transaction remains subject to Federal Communications Commission approval. Satellite Today says financial terms were not disclosed, so the agreement is not yet a completed transfer and its price remains unknown.
Sources and evidence
- SpaceX Moves to Acquire Nationwide Low-Band Spectrum for Starlink Mobile: Satellite Today reports that SpaceX has agreed to acquire 14 MHz of paired 800 MHz spectrum from Grain Management to improve Starlink Mobile coverage indoors; the deal needs FCC approval and its financial terms were not disclosed.
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.
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