FCC greenlights SpaceX satellite internet plan

Yesterday, SpaceX received approval from the FCC for its ambitious satellite internet project. As I've written several times now, SpaceX aims to put 4,425 satellites in orbit to give everyone access to super-fast Internet. These satellites will be placed at low altitudes, to hit a target latency of 25-35ms, but this means a huge number of satellites are needed to cover every spot of the Earth.

As a low-cost space launch operator, SpaceX is ideally positioned to launch its own satellite internet constellation. The service will be called Starlink and the company hopes it will become a major revenue driver.

”We appreciate the FCC’s thorough review and approval of SpaceX’s constellation license. 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,” Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer, said in a statement given to The Verge.

Estimates from internal SpaceX documents reveal the rocket firm expects over 40 million subscribers by 2025, allowing an annual revenue of roughly $30 billion

Via: The Verge