- SpaceX can launch another 7,500 Starlink satellites
- That means 15,000 Gen2 models will be in circulation
- The satellites should all be in the sky by December 2031
SpaceX already has 7,500 of its Starlink Gen2 satellites in orbit, and has just received the green light from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US to launch 7,500 more – taking the total up to 15,000.
The news was announced by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr (via Wccftech ), and in Carr’s own words on social media, this decision will enable “even better, faster and more advanced Internet services in the country.”
Connect to a Gen2 satellite via a Starlink dish and you promise higher capacity and lower latency compared to the first generation models. The updated satellites have a 20x increase in throughput and are easier to connect to.
At the same time, the FCC has also authorized SpaceX to operate its Starlink satellites across a wider range of frequencies and in a greater number of orbital configurations, which should ensure a more reliable and faster service.
Safety measures
President Trump is restoring America’s technology leadership. NEW today, the FCC approved SpaceX to deploy and operate up to 15,000 next-generation satellites – enabling even better, faster and more advanced internet services in the country.🚀🇺🇸🚀🇺🇸🚀🇺🇸🚀🇺 pic.twitter.com/zz2sXJ8bXG9 January 2026
Questions have been raised about how crowded the edges of Earth’s atmosphere will become, and SpaceX originally wanted to put nearly 30,000 Gen2 satellites in space back in 2020. Now the FCC thinks it’s safe to go from 7,500 to 15,000.
It’s also worth noting that SpaceX recently lowered the altitude of 4,400 of its satellites to reduce the risk of collisions with other satellites and objects in space (including the International Space Station of course).
This move will no doubt have been taken into account when the FCC weighed its latest decision. Additional satellites also mean that Starlink will now be able to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the US, where it has a partnership with T-Mobile.
Half of the newly approved satellites must be launched and in place by December 1, 2028, the FCC says. The other half should then be operational by December 2031, so it may take a while for customers to notice better service.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
