U.S. regulators have approved basic rules that allow SpaceX and other satellite operators to use radio waves from ground-based mobile partners to keep smartphone users connected beyond range of cell towers. On March 14, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously in favor of supporting the space coverage (SCS) regulatory framework.

SCS providers will operate as support services to Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) companies on conventional frequencies already approved for use from space. This means that the SCS operator will have to immediately stop its operations in case of interference with the MSS provider or the terrestrial telecommunications company with fundamental rights.

The final version of the framework has not yet been released, but will be based on the FCC’s draft released last month. The Framework will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register and review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); This is a process required by law and may take several weeks.

The FCC also voted to adopt the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address a number of additional issues, including the protection of radio astronomy and the requirement that 911 calls and text messages be routed to a public safety point using location-based routing or emergency calling. centre. This rulemaking process will be subject to public participation.

“We are the first nation to adopt a framework that combines satellite and wireless services through additional coverage from space,” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel said, allowing these networks to accomplish more than they could on their own.

“Together, they could put an end to dead zones,” Rosenworcel said, which “means that when a disaster hits and destroys ground systems, we’ll have a backup in space.”

He added that other countries are watching the U.S. closely to formulate their own rules that would allow satellites to bridge connectivity gaps across the country by using spectrum from ground partners. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation developer Lynk Global said the FCC approval would help grow what it estimates is an addressable market worth more than $325 billion.

“This is good news that underscores America’s ongoing role in developing and delivering technology that changes lives around the world,” said Charles Miller, Lynk Global CEO.

Omnispace, which aims to provide direct connectivity to devices using the S-band spectrum already approved for MSS, said SCS is encouraged to be considered as a secondary service for core distribution companies like Omnispace. But Omnispace chief regulator and international strategy officer Mindel De La Torre remains concerned about possible interference from SpaceX, which plans to use T-Mobile’s spectrum for direct smartphone service in the United States.

Before

Apple’s newest iPhones, due in late 2022, use traditional MSS spectrum from Globalstar satellites to connect users outside cellular coverage in the United States and other countries with limited SOS services, starting in late 2022. Other companies are developing clusters that will provide higher bandwidth capabilities such as standard text messaging and eventually voice and data services.

SpaceX aims to bring text services to phones already in use in the United States with T-Mobile this year; Voice and data services are planned for 2025. On February 26, the company announced it had published its first post on X (formerly Twitter) testing Starlink broadband satellites in LEO with the ability to connect directly to a smartphone.

Lynk Global has established partnerships with local telecommunications companies in the Solomon Islands, Cook Islands and parts of Palau, enabling periodic text messages to be sent from three satellites. The company recently deployed two more satellites to improve coverage and capabilities, but has yet to achieve plans to put 5,000 of them into orbit to provide full global services.

In February, Lynk Global agreed to merge with a publicly traded shell company led by former professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez to raise money for Constellation. In January, AST SpaceMobile announced it had raised $155 million from Google, AT&T and Vodafone ahead of plans to deploy the first commercial LEO satellites for direct-to-smartphone service early this year.

Omnispace, meanwhile, told the FCC it plans to provide the first direct smartphone services from 300 of its proposed network of more than 600 LEO satellites in 2026.