SpaceX Has a Strategy for Starlink to Achieve Gigabit Speeds
Elon Musk’s satellite internet firm informed the FCC that minor adjustments to its “orbital setup and operational settings” could lead to almost 10 times quicker downloads.
SpaceX is requesting authorization for modifications to Starlink that the firm claims will facilitate gigabit-per-second broadband service. In an application filed with the US Federal Communications Commission on October 11, SpaceX asserts that the proposed “modification and its corresponding amendment will allow the Gen2 system to provide gigabit-speed, genuine low-latency broadband and widespread mobile connectivity to every American and the billions worldwide who still do not have sufficient broadband access.”
SpaceX stated it is pursuing “a few small-but-significant adjustments to the orbital setup and operational standards for its Gen2 space station approval to enhance space sustainability, more effectively meet changing demand, and optimize spectrum sharing with other users.”
SpaceX aims to reduce the altitudes of satellites “from 525 km, 530 km, and 535 km to 480 km, 485 km, and 475 km altitude, respectively.” The reconfiguration will enhance the “possible maximum count of orbital planes and satellites in each plane” while maintaining the intended total of second-generation satellites at 29,988 or fewer. The FCC has approved a total of 7,500 Gen2 satellites to date.
On Monday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that “the next generation of Starlink satellites, designed to be launched solely by Starship due to their size, will enable a tenfold increase in bandwidth and provide quicker latency thanks to their lower altitude.”
In 2016, SpaceX pledged gigabit speeds while the satellite system was still in its planning phase and lacked a name. “After being completely optimized via the Final Deployment, the system will deliver high bandwidth (reaching 1 Gbps per user), low-latency broadband services to consumers and enterprises in the US and worldwide,” SpaceX informed the FCC in November 2016. Regarding real speeds in 2024, Starlink’s site states that “users usually see download speeds ranging from 25 to 220 Mbps, with most users achieving speeds exceeding 100 Mbps.” Upload speeds generally range from 5 to 20 Mbps. Latency varies from 25 to 60 ms on land and exceeds 100 ms in some remote areas.
Modifying Satellite Elevation Angles
SpaceX mentioned that another request would adjust the elevation angles of satellites to enhance network performance. “SpaceX aims to reduce its minimum elevation angle from 25 degrees to 20 degrees for satellites functioning at altitudes between 400 and 500 kilometers,” SpaceX informed the FCC. “Lowering the minimum elevation angle in this manner will improve customer connectivity by enabling satellites to connect directly with more earth stations and to sustain connections with earth stations for an extended duration while passing overhead.”
In the meantime, SpaceX announced that updates to Starlink’s Gen2 satellites will include improved hardware capable of utilizing higher gain along with sophisticated beamforming and digital processing technologies, offering more precise and durable coverage for consumers in the United States.
SpaceX is additionally pursuing greater flexibility in spectrum licenses to facilitate its intended mobile service and the existing home internet service. The organization requested authorization “to utilize Ka-, V-, and E-band frequencies for both mobile and fixed-satellite applications wherever the US or International Table of Frequency Allocations allows such dual use and where the antenna specifications would be indistinguishable.”
“The application stated that these minor adjustments, consistent with Commission precedent, do not alter the technical parameters of SpaceX’s authorization, yet would allow considerable added flexibility to address the varied connectivity and capacity requirements of consumer, enterprise, industrial, and government users.” SpaceX announced that it has also filed “an amendment to the ongoing portion of the Gen2 application seeking further enhancements to its Gen2 system that the Commission has not yet considered, including SpaceX’s orbital shells under 400 kilometers and frequencies beyond those specified in the initial application.”
FCC Questioned Previous Speed Assertions
There’s no assurance that the FCC will authorize the applications. Other satellite providers and mobile network operators have voiced concerns over earlier Starlink proposals, and the FCC has expressed doubt regarding certain assertions made by the company.
AT&T and Verizon have recently requested that the FCC dismiss a crucial component of SpaceX’s proposal to provide cellular service alongside T-Mobile. The mobile providers claim that a waiver requested by SpaceX for FCC regulations on out-of-band emission limits would disrupt and diminish service for ground-based mobile broadband networks.
In March, the FCC rejected a SpaceX request to utilize specific spectrum bands for mobile service. The ruling compels SpaceX to pursue modifications in a regulatory process where the FCC would assess if the spectrum bands can accommodate the system without impacting current users.
In 2022, the FCC raised concerns about Starlink’s abilities when it rejected a request for $886 million in federal funding intended for enhancing broadband access. The FCC concluded that Starlink might not be able to reliably deliver low-latency service while meeting the grant program’s necessary download speed of 100 Mbps and upload speed of 20 Mbps.
At that moment, the FCC described Starlink as a “nascent” technology with “acknowledged capacity limitations,” citing declining speeds and an initial cost of $600 (which has now been reduced). SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have persistently challenged the FCC for rejecting the grant.
The request for modifications to the satellite system is a distinctly separate issue from the grant. The adjustments suggested by SpaceX could potentially address some of the capacity and speed issues previously noted by the FCC. Other firms will have the opportunity to submit objections. For approval, SpaceX must show that the modifications will not adversely impact other spectrum users and satellite operators.
