On October 8, 2026, SpaceX announced an agreement to acquire US licenses in the 800 MHz band for Starlink Mobile. The reported portfolio covers up to 14 MHz of paired spectrum. SpaceX says the band would add coverage to a planned network that combines satellites and terrestrial infrastructure.
SpaceX’s US spectrum agreement
The agreement concerns low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz range across the United States. The reported maximum is 14 MHz of paired spectrum: two linked frequency blocks used together. The agreement is a step in SpaceX’s plan for Starlink Mobile, not a description of a network already in operation.
What 800 MHz and 2 GHz are meant to do
SpaceX describes the two bands as having different jobs: 800 MHz would provide an additional coverage layer, while 2 GHz would supply capacity. In practical terms, the company’s plan uses the lower-frequency band to help extend coverage, including through obstacles, and the 2 GHz band to carry network traffic.
| Spectrum band | Role in SpaceX’s proposed network | Reported geographic scope |
| 800 MHz | Additional coverage layer | US licenses |
| 2 GHz | Capacity layer | Global spectrum |
The proposed satellite-and-ground network
SpaceX’s proposed Starlink Mobile architecture combines its satellites with terrestrial mobile infrastructure. The 800 MHz licenses are intended to complement the 2 GHz spectrum within that design.
Reports published October 9, 2026, said FCC approval for the spectrum transfer was still pending. That transfer is separate from the authorization for Starlink Gen2 satellites.
A separate Starlink Gen2 authorization
A separate FCC authorization for up to 15,000 Starlink Gen2 satellites was reported in early October. It concerns the satellite constellation, not approval of the 800 MHz spectrum transfer.
