FCC lets SpaceX cut satellite altitude to improve Starlink speed and latency

FCC lets SpaceX cut satellite altitude to improve Starlink speed and latency

3 years ago
Anonymous $f-b3Pf4iLZ

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/04/fcc-lets-spacex-cut-satellite-altitude-to-improve-starlink-speed-and-latency/

SpaceX today was granted permission to use a lower orbit for Starlink satellites, as regulators agreed with SpaceX that the change will improve broadband speed and latency while making it easier to minimize orbital debris. In granting SpaceX's request, the Federal Communications Commission dismissed opposition from Viasat, Hughes, Dish Network, OneWeb, the Amazon subsidiary known as Kuiper, and other satellite companies that claimed the change would cause too much interference with other systems.

In 2018, SpaceX received FCC approval to launch 4,425 broadband satellites at orbits of 1,110 km to 1,325 km. Today's FCC order granting SpaceX's license-change request lowers the altitude for 2,814 of the satellites, letting them orbit in the 540-570 km range. Today's FCC order will also let SpaceX use a lower elevation angle for antennas on user terminals and gateway Earth stations.