SpaceX talks about what it wants to do with its new 2 GHz spectrum

SpaceX is asking the Federal Communications Commission for the authority to launch a new constellation of up to 15,000 satellites to provide direct-to-cell services to consumers on the ground. The company recently filed a request with the FCC for the additional satellites, which will use 2 GHz spectrum it’s acquiring from EchoStar. The FCC still must approve the $17 billion spectrum transfer from EchoStar to SpaceX, but given FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s statement calling it a “potential game changer” for American consumers, it’s a good bet it will get the green light sooner rather than later.In a separate filing, SpaceX and EchoStar spelled out why the spectrum transfer is in the public interest. Specifically, SpaceX seeks to acquire all of EchoStar’s licenses for AWS-4 and AWS-H blocks, in addition to EchoStar’s international spectrum authorizations for mobile satellite service at 2 GHz.