The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to initiate a review of the upper C-band satellite spectrum. This process, starting at their first open meeting under Chairman Brendan Carr on February 27, could trigger a significant showdown between SpaceX and U.S. wireless carriers. Chairman Carr announced on February 5th that the FCC plans to vote on a notice of inquiry to explore “more intensive use” of the 3.98-4.2 gigahertz (GHz) band.
This action follows the FCC's successful repurposing of the lower C-band spectrum (3.7-3.98 GHz) for terrestrial 5G services, generating over $80 billion in auction proceeds for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Satellite operators SES and Intelsat, which previously held this spectrum, received approximately $9 billion in relocation payments to transition their services to the upper C-band.
The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), representing Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, supports the FCC’s move, viewing it as crucial for expanding 5G services. “Making Upper C-band available for 5G services is crucial to strengthening America’s wireless networks, driving innovation, creating jobs, and securing our economic competitiveness,” stated CTIA. However, analyst Blair Levin of NewStreet Research cautioned, “we don’t think the wireless industry should be popping champagne yet,” noting the FCC hasn't explicitly endorsed commercial use.
In contrast, SpaceX recently urged the FCC to adopt a shared-access model for the upper C-band, allowing multiple operators, including satellite providers, to utilize the spectrum. “To be clear, SpaceX does not oppose the merger between SES and Intelsat, nor is it suggesting they have spectrum taken away,” SpaceX's letter stated. “Rather, SpaceX is proposing the Commission modernize the 200 MHz of the upper C-band … by sharing the band across multiple operators in addition to the merged entity that already controls more than 90% of the band.” SpaceX emphasizes that a flexible framework is "essential to solidify American leadership in 6G, which will interweave terrestrial and satellite networks into a seamless consumer experience."
Adam Rhodes, a senior telecom analyst at Octus, suggests allocating additional harmonized frequencies to Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) could alleviate future supply constraints for direct-to-smartphone connectivity. While SpaceX is exploring MSS frequencies, the suitability of the upper C-band for this purpose remains unclear. Rhodes also cautioned that any realignment for MSS would be a lengthy undertaking, requiring extensive coordination and technical adjustments.