The Federal Communications Commission gave Boeing the green light to establish its own internet satellite network despite complaints from SpaceX. The approval means that SpaceX's Starlink network will have more competition in providing satellite broadband internet to the U.S. and other countries.
SpaceX previously moved to block the approval arguing that the launch of another satellite network could cause interference with its services. Elon Musk's company currently has a network of about 1,730 satellites flying in low orbit. SpaceX is using satellites to provide internet services to more than 90,000 users.
About a year after Boeing submitted their proposal to the FCC in 2017, SpaceX filed a petition to block the project. Boeing's deployment plan, it argued, would create interference with its satellites and would overcrowd low Earth orbit. The FCC rejected SpaceX's arguments.
With the approval, Boeing may now begin constructing its satellite network. The company plans to launch a total of 147 satellites for its initial phase. Boeing will begin by putting about 132 low-earth satellites into orbit at a height of 1,056 kilometers.
The remaining 15 will be non-geostationary, meaning they will not rotate with the Earth. According to the FCC application, these satellites orbit at a far greater altitude-between 27,355 and 44,221 kilometers. Boeing will provide internet to the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Boeing has six years to launch half of its satellites and nine years to complete the remainder. The commission dismissed Boeing's request for a waiver to prolong the build-out to 12 years. Boeing's network has a slight edge over SpaceX's Starlink network in terms of data transmission speeds. Boeing's satellites use V-band signals, a high-frequency wireless spectrum. Meanwhile, Starlink utilizes the Ka- and Ku-bands, which are often used by commercial aircraft for in-flight internet access.
Boeing will be directly competing with Starlink and Amazon in the satellite internet industry. Amazon plans to launch two satellites in late 2022 as part of its Project Kuiper satellite broadband endeavor. The FCC authorized Amazon's satellite network last year.
The tech giants will also be competing with existing satellite internet providers such as Viasat, OneWeb, and HughesNet.
