FCC approves T-Mobile’s Starlink cellular coverage plans

Federal Communications Commission Approved a first-of-its-kind license to provide internet access to dead zones and other remote areas.

On Tuesday, the FCC made its decision approval for T-Mobile and Elon Musk‘s SpaceX It will team up with its subsidiary Starlink and provide additional telecommunications coverage.

As Reuters reported, this marks the first time the FCC has issued a license to “a satellite operator cooperating with a wireless operator.” T-Mobile will use Starlink satellites to provide coverage from space over “certain flexible-use spectrum bands dedicated to terrestrial service.”

Last month, T-Mobile and Starlink teamed up to offer satellite-based cellular coverage to users for free. affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The commission gave interim approval to the coverage plan for mobile phones due to the emergency, and its final approval grants the two companies a non-emergency license to provide satellite internet services.

“The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver a single network future that will end mobile dead zones,” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.

But this way threshold states that there are some restrictions. FCC application.

SpaceX cannot yet increase the radio emission power of Starlink satellites. Companies like AT&T and Verizon worry this could interfere with carrier networks.

Regardless, FCC approval gives Starlink an advantage over its competitors. Other companies also have pending applications under review, according to Reuters. However, the first approval has just been given to Starlink and T-Mobile.