FCC satellite spectrum auction to open 507MHz for direct-to-device connectivity

Opening over 500MHz of spectrum provides the necessary bandwidth for SpaceX and Amazon to eliminate mobile dead zones, creating a secondary layer of infrastructure for high-bandwidth data delivery. For the streaming ecosystem, this transition from emergency text services to robust D2D connectivity suggests a future where mobile video consumption is no longer tethered to terrestrial cell towers. As Brendan Carr moves to modernize rules for licensed spectrum, the competitive landscape will shift toward whoever can most efficiently integrate satellite constellations with existing smartphone hardware. Watch for the October 29 vote results to determine the timeline for these spectrum allocations and subsequent deployment of Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation.

The FCC's October 29 vote agenda represents the latest in a series of regulatory moves under Chairman Brendan Carr to accelerate direct-to-device satellite services. On October 6, the FCC approved SpaceX's application to deploy 15,000 next-generation D2D satellites using spectrum SpaceX acquired from EchoStar, clearing the company to operate across nine orbital shells at altitudes between 326 and 335 kilometers. SpaceX executives have indicated the new constellation will deliver 5G-like speeds, a significant leap from the current T-Satellite service with T-Mobile, which relies on roughly 650 satellites and delivers up to 4 Mbit/s per user.

The 25MHz auction targets the 1675-1695MHz and 2020-2025MHz bands, which previously supported NOAA meteorological operations. SpaceX, Amazon, and AST SpaceMobile all expressed interest in the bands, with SpaceX arguing that the lower-frequency airwaves travel farther and sustain mobile connections better than higher-frequency alternatives. Amazon, which is acquiring Globalstar to bolster its Project Kuiper satellite-to-phone ambitions, urged the FCC to open the spectrum, noting that upcoming D2D services require additional radio frequencies to improve coverage. The FCC's proposal would allow the spectrum to be used flexibly for 5G, D2D, or a hybrid of both.

Beyond the licensed spectrum auction, the FCC has also moved to expand unlicensed D2D access. In September 2026, the agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking exploring how unlicensed devices operating in more than 200MHz of part 15 spectrum could communicate with satellites on a non-interference basis, potentially allowing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-class devices to connect directly to authorized satellite constellations without requiring individual spectrum licenses. Meanwhile, the FCC's V2 Starlink Mobile satellites are targeting user speeds up to 150 Mbit/s, and SpaceX has framed the service as a potential competitor to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon by combining satellites with ground-based femtocells.