---
title: "FCC lets SpaceX launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites"
description: "Starlink's second-generation fleet can now reach 15,000 satellites, including direct-to-cell service for ordinary phones."
url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/fcc-approves-7500-starlink-satellites
language: en # English
type: news
published: 2026-01-10T16:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-01T22:14:35.000Z
author: "Osamah Ismail"
author_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/author/1
section: "Telecom"
tags: ["Starlink","SpaceX","FCC","satellites","direct-to-cell"]
sources: ["FCC","Reuters","TechCrunch"]
image: https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/v4-night-sky-2dd44d68.webp
translations:
  ku: https://kurddevelopers.com/news/fcc-approves-7500-starlink-satellites
  ar: https://kurddevelopers.com/ar/news/fcc-approves-7500-starlink-satellites
publisher: Kurd Developers
publisher_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/
---

# FCC lets SpaceX launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites

> Starlink's second-generation fleet can now reach 15,000 satellites, including direct-to-cell service for ordinary phones.

![Image: Starlink](https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/v4-night-sky-2dd44d68.webp)

On January 9, the US **FCC** approved **SpaceX**'s request to launch **7,500** more second-generation **Starlink** satellites, bringing the total to **15,000** worldwide.

## What's new

- Satellites can operate across **five frequencies**
- **Direct-to-cell** connectivity for phones outside the US
- and supplemental coverage for mobile networks inside the US

## SpaceX wanted more

SpaceX had asked for 15,000 additional satellites. The FCC said it would **defer** a decision on the remaining 14,988.

## Deadlines

- **50%** of the approved satellites by **December 1, 2028**
- the rest by **December 2031**

## Why it matters to us

Direct-to-cell means an ordinary phone can connect straight to a satellite where there is no network. For mountainous regions like Kurdistan, that could matter a lot, if it is ever licensed locally.

**Sources:** FCC, Reuters, TechCrunch

---

Published by [Kurd Developers](https://kurddevelopers.com/) on 2026-01-10. Cite as: “FCC lets SpaceX launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites”, Kurd Developers, https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/fcc-approves-7500-starlink-satellites