Reuters reported on the 9th (local time) that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceX's request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites.

SpaceX, led by Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, will be able to secure up to 15,000 second-generation Starlink satellites for launch and operation in low Earth orbit. The FCC allowed SpaceX to upgrade satellite performance and operate across five frequency bands.

The Starlink service from the space corporations SpaceX, led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, completes all administrative procedures to launch in Korea. The photo shows a Starlink satellite antenna image./Courtesy of SpaceX

Starlink provides internet service by exchanging signals with ground terminals while satellites orbit low Earth altitudes of 300–1,500 kilometers more than 10 times a day. By installing a satellite antenna and a modem/router, users can access the internet on smartphones, tablets, and laptops in a way similar to fixed-line and mobile networks.

The FCC said SpaceX's additional satellites will support the "direct-to-cell (DTC)" service, which enables direct connections between satellites and smartphones, outside the United States, and can provide internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps within the United States.

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