SpaceX's Spectrum Strategy and the 15,000-Satellite System
What has SpaceX bought, what has the FCC approved, and what does SpaceX intend to do with it?
Chapter summary
SpaceX has moved from renting mobile operators' spectrum to owning its own.
Key takeaways
- 1
In September 2025 it agreed to buy EchoStar's AWS-4 and H-block licences, plus unpaired AWS-3 spectrum, about 65 MHz in the United States, for about $17 billion in cash and SpaceX stock, plus about $2 billion of interest payments on EchoStar's debt.
- 2
On 6 October 2026 the FCC approved a system of 15,000 direct-to-device satellites at 326–335 kilometres, using that spectrum, and waived the rule that would have required a lease with a terrestrial operator.
- 3
SpaceX says next-generation service will offer up to 150 Mbps per user and plans launches from late 2027.
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