Starlink Gets FCC Nod to Launch 7,500 More Satellites Ahead of India Rollout

Starlink, the satellite broadband venture operated by Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, has received a major regulatory clearance that significantly strengthens its global expansion plans, including its much-anticipated entry into the Indian market.

The United States Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy 7,500 additional second-generation Starlink satellites, effectively doubling the currently authorised constellation. With this approval, SpaceX can now operate up to 15,000 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit, although the figure remains lower than the 30,000 satellites originally proposed by the company.

The clearance is seen as a major boost for Starlink’s next phase of growth, as the expanded constellation is expected to improve network capacity, reduce latency, and enable faster internet speeds across underserved and remote regions worldwide. The decision also grants SpaceX the ability to operate across five frequency bands, while easing earlier technical constraints that limited satellite deployment and operations.

According to the FCC, the approval aims to encourage competition in satellite broadband services and expand high-speed internet access to regions where traditional fibre and mobile infrastructure remains unreliable or prohibitively expensive. The regulator described the authorisation as a significant step toward enabling next-generation satellite connectivity at a global scale.

However, the approval comes with strict timelines. SpaceX has been directed to deploy at least 50 per cent of the newly authorised satellites by December 2028, while the remaining satellites must be launched by December 2031. Failure to meet these milestones could result in the loss of operating rights for undeployed satellites.

Implications for Starlink’s India Launch

The expanded satellite approval is particularly relevant as Starlink prepares for its long-awaited launch in India. The company has already held multiple discussions with Indian authorities to secure regulatory permissions related to spectrum usage, security compliance, and licensing norms.

India’s vast geography, combined with persistent connectivity gaps in rural and remote regions, makes satellite broadband a strategic solution for bridging the digital divide. The additional 7,500 satellites are expected to strengthen Starlink’s ability to offer consistent and scalable services once commercial operations begin in the country.

Despite the expansion, SpaceX has consistently clarified that Starlink is not designed to replace conventional urban broadband networks. Musk has previously explained that physical limitations prevent satellite internet from efficiently serving densely populated cities, where high user density can strain available bandwidth.

Instead, Starlink’s primary focus remains on rural communities, border areas, islands, and disaster-prone regions, where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or economically unviable. With more satellites in orbit, the company aims to improve service reliability while supporting a larger number of users spread across wider geographic areas.

Globally, Starlink already operates in dozens of countries, providing internet services to homes, businesses, emergency responders, and military users. The latest FCC approval positions SpaceX to further consolidate its lead in the satellite broadband sector, even as competition intensifies from other players planning low-Earth orbit constellations.

As India moves closer to allowing satellite-based internet services, Starlink’s expanded constellation could play a key role in shaping the country’s digital connectivity landscape in the years ahead.