SpaceX urges FCC to block Globalstar’s cellular satellite plans; Shruti Gurudanti, Rose Law Group partner and leader of the firm’s space law practice, calls it a ‘fair ask’

(Credit: Globalstar/SpaceX)

By Michael Kan | PC Mag

SpaceX is lobbying the FCC to block iPhone satellite provider Globalstar from launching a new constellation of 48 low-Earth orbiting satellites. 

Globalstar’s “C3” constellation promises to expand the satellite-powered features on future iPhones, funded in part by a $1 billion investment from Apple. However, SpaceX claims the FCC needs to dismiss the application because the C3 constellation will use radio spectrum in the 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz bands. 

Those radio bands are facing scrutiny at the FCC, which is considering opening up the spectrum to all satellite players, following a request from SpaceX. As a result, the company is calling out Globalstar’s application as “premature,” and urging the FCC to first open up the radio bands for sharing among mobile satellite services. 

“Doing so would be the fairest and most expeditious route to determine the appropriate regulatory regime to govern operations in a band that has not been examined in nearly 20 years,” SpaceX said in a letter to the FCC. 

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“This is a fair ask by SpaceX and should be considered by the FCC to help accelerate healthy competition.”
-Shruti Gurudanti, Rose Law Group partner and leader of the firm’s space law practice