SpaceX’s plan to offer strong cellular coverage through its Starlink satellite system has hit a major roadblock. Two of the biggest players in the telecommunications industry, AT&T and Verizon, are raising alarms about potential interference with their own networks. The concerns are so significant that both companies have formally asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny SpaceX’s proposal.
AT&T and Verizon’s Concerns
After analyzing SpaceX’s plan technically, AT&T discovered several concerning findings. AT&T estimates that SpaceX’s proposal might result in an average decrease in network downlink throughput of 18%. This means that if SpaceX’s plan goes through, AT&T’s network could become slower and less efficient. Verizon echoes these concerns, warning that SpaceX’s proposal could harm the operation of existing terrestrial networks, which are the ground-based systems that provide cellular service to millions of people.
Both AT&T and Verizon are urging the FCC to reject SpaceX’s request. They argue that allowing SpaceX to operate its cellular Starlink satellites outside of normal radio frequency limits would create unacceptable interference. This interference, they claim, would not only affect their own networks but also undermine the FCC’s mission to protect the integrity of terrestrial mobile operations.
SpaceX’s Request to the FCC
To improve its technology, SpaceX made a request to the FCC in June. The company asked for a waiver that would allow its cellular Starlink satellites to operate beyond the normal limits set for radio frequency emissions. These limits, known as “aggregate out-of-band emissions power flux-density limits,” are in place to prevent interference between different networks.
SpaceX argues that its technology would still prevent interference with other networks, even with the increased radio emissions. The company believes that granting the waiver would benefit consumers and first responders by providing more reliable coverage, even in challenging conditions. Additionally, SpaceX claims that waiving the rule would prevent artificial limits on the number of satellites that can be used to provide coverage. This, in turn, would allow more people to benefit from the service.
In February, SpaceX conducted its own study and found that the risk of interference was minimal. Citing their own analyses that demonstrate the interference risk is genuine and significant, AT&T and Verizon, on the other hand, are not persuaded.
Ongoing Disputes and Rivalry
The rivalry that exists between SpaceX and its rivals is not new. The rivalry has been ongoing as various companies race to establish dominance in the field of satellite-based internet services. AT&T and Verizon, for instance, are not just concerned about interference—they are also developing their own cellular satellite systems. These systems, being built in collaboration with the Texas startup AST SpaceMobile, are expected to begin beta testing by December. However, unlike SpaceX, which has already launched over 100 satellites, AT&T and Verizon still have a long way to go before they can offer continuous coverage across the United States.
Other companies, like Dish Network and Omnispace, have also joined the fray, lodging their complaints with the FCC. These companies, too, are worried about the potential interference from SpaceX’s cellular Starlink system.
In response to the growing opposition, SpaceX has called on the FCC to dismiss the objections, labeling them as stalling tactics. The company argues that its competitors are trying to block a more advanced system and gain access to sensitive information that could benefit their own projects.
SpaceX further claims that each time it has proven that its technology would not cause harmful interference, its competitors have shifted their arguments or questioned the validity of the analyses. The company believes these objections are not based on legitimate concerns but are instead attempts to delay SpaceX’s progress and protect their own interests.
The battle between SpaceX and its competitors highlights the intense competition in the satellite-based internet service industry. As SpaceX continues to push forward with its cellular Starlink system, the opposition from AT&T, Verizon, and other companies shows no signs of slowing down. The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for the future of satellite-based internet services, but for now, the focus remains on the ongoing clash over interference concerns.
