FCC saves Starlink from 5G interference, backing SpaceX in fight against Dish

News Summary

  • The band is also used for satellite TV.In its announcement of the vote, the FCC said it "declin[ed] to authorize two-way, high-powered terrestrial mobile use due to a significant risk of harmful interference to existing and emergent services, particularly in the growing satellite broadband market.
  • In a 4-0 vote, the FCC decided not to authorize high-powered terrestrial mobile service in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band that is already used by Starlink customer terminals for downloads.The vote "ensure[s] the present and future of satellite services in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band.
  • "The power levels and coverage profiles of terrestrial networks risk saturating [satellite receiver] arrays with interference from networks of powerful terrestrial transmitters, including via side lobes even when care is taken with terrestrial antenna angles," Simington said.
  • "Dish already uses spectrum from the 12.2-12.7 GHz band for satellite TV and wants to use the band for cellular service as well.
  • "Dish has been attempting to claim new rights to the 12 GHz band, which is the spectrum you currently use to download content with Starlink," the SpaceX subsidiary told customers at the time.
  • The agency also teed up a plan that could eventually allow mobile broadband in the adjacent 12.7-13.25 GHz band.
Enlarge/ A Starlink satellite dish.5 with The Federal Communications Commission sided with Starlink in a battle against Dish Network today, rejecting a Dish proposal that could have degraded Inte [+3583 chars]