FCC proposes satellite D2D connectivity in 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands

Opening unlicensed bands to satellite uplinks could significantly lower the barrier for mass-market direct-to-device services by utilizing hardware already present in billions of consumer devices. For the streaming and IoT ecosystems, this creates a potential path for ubiquitous connectivity in remote areas without requiring specialized satellite chipsets. However, the introduction of space-to-Earth downlinks in the 5.8 GHz band remains a complex technical hurdle that could threaten the reliability of local Wi-Fi networks if interference isn't strictly managed. Industry stakeholders should watch for the FCC's final ruling on whether FCC proposal targets Chinese test labs will be excluded from this new licensing framework for national security reasons, especially as the Senate passes Secure Space Act to further restrict satellite licensing for foreign vendors.

The FCC's move to open unlicensed bands for satellite direct-to-device connectivity arrives amid a global race among satellite operators and regulators to define how non-terrestrial networks coexist with terrestrial services. In June 2026, Ericsson launched its AI in RAN commercial software subscription claiming up to 20% higher downlink throughput across more than 15 live deployments, signaling that terrestrial network operators are simultaneously investing in AI-driven efficiency to protect their spectrum advantages against encroaching satellite services. The convergence of satellite and terrestrial network planning is forcing regulators worldwide to balance innovation with interference protection for incumbent users of shared bands. On the business and regulatory front, Nokia has been assembling a comprehensive autonomous network architecture that positions terrestrial infrastructure as a complement to satellite coverage. Nokia announced partnerships with AWS and Databricks to build a unified telco data platform supporting autonomous networks at DTW Ignite in June 2026, claiming operators are already achieving automation rates above 90 percent and service delivery times under four hours. These terrestrial automation investments matter for the FCC's satellite D2D proposal because operators with highly automated ground networks will be better positioned to integrate satellite backhaul and manage interference dynamically when unlicensed-band satellite uplinks go live. From a technical standpoint, the challenge of coexistence between satellite uplinks and existing Wi-Fi or IoT devices in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands mirrors interference management problems that terrestrial vendors have been solving with AI. Nokia disclosed that its mobile core now uses agentic AI to reduce call setup times from roughly 10 seconds to one or two seconds through machine-learning-based UE paging, demonstrating the kind of real-time adaptive control that may be necessary when satellite signals share spectrum with dense terrestrial deployments. Meanwhile, Light Reading reported that Nokia and Ericsson are diverging sharply on AI-RAN strategy, with Nokia building its entire Layer 1 RAN on Nvidia CUDA software following a $1 billion investment from the chipmaker, a split that will influence how each vendor approaches the coexistence challenges inherent in the FCC's proposed hybrid licensing framework. As this regulatory landscape evolves, SpaceX secures Starlink Mobile FCC approval for global satellite roaming serves as a key benchmark for how the commission handles non-terrestrial network integration. To ensure interoperability, GCF and MSSA partner to standardize NTN certification for satellite connectivity as the industry moves toward unified global standards.