36 US Sites Win Full Approval as FCC Green-Lights Next Starlink Gateways for Gigabit Speeds

Approval for new gateways

The FCC has approved SpaceX’s applications to operate 36 next-generation gateway stations in the United States. The sites are intended to help Starlink provide gigabit speeds. The gateways connect to fiber networks and relay data between those networks and SpaceX’s satellites. SpaceX’s applications describe stations with 40 antennas designed to use additional radio waves for high-capacity, low-latency broadband.

V3 satellites and capacity

SpaceX is counting on the gateways as part of its effort to deliver gigabit speeds with its V3 satellites. The company had 26 V3 satellites in orbit, with another 26 scheduled to launch Friday on its latest Starship flight.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said on last month’s earnings call that a few hundred V3 satellites would be needed for people to feel the impact. She said the company could reach that number by the middle of next year.

Iridium’s withdrawn objection

Iridium first challenged the gateway licenses, citing concerns about radio interference with its satellite network. It withdrew its petitions last month, saying it believed coordination with SpaceX could prevent interference.

The FCC said Iridium had not shown how a gateway site far from its feeder-link locations could cause unacceptable interference. The agency cited locations in Buffalo, Minnesota, and Brooklyn, New York, compared with Iridium sites in Arizona.

Temporary operating authority

The FCC said it had already allowed SpaceX to operate the gateways under special temporary authority while the regular applications were pending. The agency said this type of authorization had been granted before.