SpaceX has received FCC approval to launch an additional 7,500 Starlink satellites

Federal Communications Commission Announced Friday It granted SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide.

In addition to allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites can operate across five frequencies and provide direct cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage in the United States.

Reuters reported this SpaceX has requested approval for an additional 15,000 satellites, but the FCC said it would “delay licensing for the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites.”

The FCC says SpaceX must launch 50% of its certified Starlink satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining 50% by December 2031.