FCC finally authorises SpaceX to roll out satellite broadband to anything that moves

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By Matthew Griffin Connected Society 14th July 2022

WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

The future of communications could be purely space based and Elon Musk is building a $100 billion business off of it.

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In a massive boost for the company and anyone and anything that wants to be connected wherever they are on the planet SpaceX’s satellite internet service StarLink is growing, and growing, and growing. And now it’s officially going mobile after the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday gave the company, which already provides satellite internet to homes, permission to extend its Starlink WiFi service to vehicles that include everything from aircraft, drones, and trains, to cargo ships and pleasure craft.

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“We agree with SpaceX… that the public interest would benefit by granting with conditions their applications,” The FCC wrote in its authorization letter. “Authorizing a new class of terminals for SpaceX’s satellite system will expand the range of broadband capabilities to meet the growing user demands that now require connectivity while on the move, whether driving an RV across the country, moving a freighter from Europe to a US port, or while on a domestic or international flight.”

The Future of Communications, by Keynote Speaker Matthew Griffin

Starlink had already begun expanding its terrestrial footprint, even before the FCC decision, installing receiver dishes at Tesla Supercharger stations, raising prices and unveiling a $500 per month Premium service tier. SpaceX has also recently announced partnerships with Delta and Hawaiian Airlines to potentially offer the service aboard their aircraft.

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SpaceX, and CEO Elon Musk, have also played the hero in recent months by offering an “internet bridge” to volcano-devastated Tonga and providing Starlink terminals to the Ukraine government — a generous offer that was, like most of Musk’s ventures, footed by the American taxpayer.

The internet service — more specifically, the massive constellation of microsatellites in Low Earth Orbit that enable it — has also drawn condemnation from astronomers worldwide who argue that the highly reflective satellites, of which there currently more than 2,200 in orbit and which Musk wants 40,000 more of, are grossly interfering with the operation of ground based telescopes.

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However, while astronomers everywhere are increasingly angry about the situation after this latest authorisation soon you’ll be able to stream Netflix in glorious 8K definition wherever your cargo ship is on the planet.

Matthew Griffin / About Author

Matthew Griffin, multi-award winning Futurist and named Futurist of the Year 2024, has been described as a "Walking encyclopaedia of the future" by NASA and a futurist polymath. One of the world's most renowned futurists and strategic foresight experts Matthew is the 15 times author of the blockbuster "Codex of the Future" series, and is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working across the next 50 years, XPotential University, the world's first free futures and foresight university, and the World Futures Forum which works with the United Nations to solve the worlds greatest challenges. Matthew is an in demand international keynote, acclaimed university lecturer and mentor, and host of the hit Fanatical Futurist podcast.

A rare talent in his past Matthew helped build and run several multi-billion dollar business units for Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, and his ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends on global business, culture, and society has earned him a powerful reputation and a roster of clients that include royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77+ governments, and many of the world's most respected brands including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi Group, Coca Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Disney, Dow, EY, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, and many others. He was also the only futurist invited to talk at the UN COP28 held in Dubai alongside world leaders.

Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.