Letter to the Federal Communications Commission
On June 21, SpaceX sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It discusses test results showing that when federal regulators allow 5G cellular networks to use a specific frequency band, Starlink users experience disruption. In particular, the letter refers to the US satellite operator Dish Network. The latter had applied for permission to operate a high-speed cellular service in the 12 GHz band, which is the frequency range used by Starlink, OneWeb and other satellite operators to connect to customer terminals.
12GHz band for terrestrial 5G disrupts Starlink usage
The tests, conducted in Las Vegas, showed that the network experienced “harmful interference” to Starlink users more than 77 percent of the time. In 74 percent of the cases it is even a total failure of the Starlink service. David Goldman, SpaceX senior director of satellite policy, said in the letter: “This analysis confirms what should be intuitive – that a high-performance terrestrial network will obliterate anyone using the highly sensitive equipment satellite users must use to transmit signals received that comply with the power limitations imposed by the Commission and the international community for satellite downlink transmissions.” As a result, fewer Americans could be connected to “next-generation satellite services” and experience degraded service and regular network outages.
Incorrect analyses
According to the letter, Dish Network allegedly previously submitted inaccurate data to the FCC to prove that Dish Network’s 5G network expansion would not impact Starlink users. Goldman also points to an RS-Access study. The company, like Dish Network, has licenses in the 12 GHz band. The study estimated that a nationwide 5G network would cause interference in less than 1 percent of the terminals used by non-geostationary satellite operators. Solutions were also identified to mitigate the impact. However, according to the SpaceX letter, this study is unrealistic and does not take into account factors such as spectrum sharing by satellite operators under coordination agreements. Overall, Goldman is calling on the FCC to investigate whether Dish Network and RS Access “have intentionally submitted misleading reports.”
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