SpaceX files with FCC for 100,000 satellites
July 8, 2026

By Chris Forrester



SpaceX has filed a formal application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to orbit 100,000 satellites.

The filing was made on July 6th and covers ‘Generation -3’ versions of its Starlink craft and to orbit the fleet in Very Low Earth orbit (VLEO).


The filing stated: “SpaceX seeks authority to deploy Gen3: 100,000 satellites powering human connectivity and AI-fueled progress. The artificial intelligence revolution promises a supersonic tsunami of progress with the capability to deliver transformative prosperity to billions and carry the light of human consciousness far into the future. SpaceX’s Gen1 and Gen2 satellite systems already deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to all American consumers and the planet’s most remote regions, from polar research stations and schools deep in the rainforest to first responders serving isolated islands in the wake of natural disasters. A robust, resilient, and ubiquitous communications infrastructure with the capacity to handle the majority of the world’s internet traffic will allow all people to enjoy the benefits of our shared abundant future and continue the legacy of American leadership in connecting the unconnected.”

To achieve this ambitious goal, the Gen3 system will require new spectrum and sharing frameworks. The Gen3 system will meet this need by augmenting its ‘workhorse’ Ku-, Ka-, V-, and E-band spectrum that the FCC granted for SpaceX’s Gen2 system with new spectrum opportunities in adjacent bands.

The Gen3 system will pioneer greenfield W- and D-band frequencies between 92 and 275 GHz, said SpaceX.