On Friday, a U.S. appeals court upheld the FCC’s decision to approve SpaceX’s plan to deploy Starlink satellites in a lower Earth orbit than previously planned in order to provide space-based broadband internet.
SpaceX got permission from the FCC in 2021 to fly 2,824 satellites in a lower orbit so that people who don’t have high-speed internet could get it.Viasat, Inc. (VSAT.O) and DISH Network Corp. opposed FCC approval.
Viasat called the ruling “a setback for space safety and the environment.”
If the court had forced the FCC to address “complicated issues surrounding deployment of mega-constellations in (low-earth orbit),” harmful impacts could have been avoided, the company said.
In a court brief, Viasat compared SpaceX’s strategy for putting up satellites to the more than 10,000 satellites that have been put up in human history.
Viasat operates only a single satellite that flies close to SpaceX’s constellation, the court ruled. “This theory of injury is too speculative.”
Dish noted the decision does not change FCC rules prohibiting SpaceX from interfering with satellite TV service. DISH will remain vigilant to ensure SpaceX operations don’t harm its customers.
SpaceX was silent.
T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) said Thursday it would use SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to provide network access in parts of the U.S. The company plans to connect users’ mobile phones directly to satellites in orbit.
New plans will supplement T-existing mobile services.
Since 2019, SpaceX has launched almost 3,000 low-Earth-orbiting Starlink satellites, which is more than OneWeb and Amazon.com’s Project Kuiper.
Last month, the FCC approved SpaceX’s Starlink application for $885.5 million in internet service subsidies after tentatively awarding the funds in 2020.
