SpaceX’s latest plan to dramatically scale its Starlink satellite network is meeting renewed resistance from competitors, environmental advocates, and other space companies, as U.S. regulators begin formally reviewing what would rank among the largest orbital deployments ever proposed.

The Federal Communications Commission has opened a public comment window on SpaceX’s application to launch an additional 15,000 satellites as part of its next-generation cellular Starlink system. The expansion is intended to relieve capacity pressure and significantly improve Starlink’s ability to offer direct-to-phone connectivity worldwide, including advanced services such as high-quality video calls and faster mobile data speeds.

SpaceX currently holds FCC approval for roughly 12,000 Starlink satellites, with about 650 already supporting its cellular services. The new request would represent a substantial escalation of that footprint. When combined with SpaceX’s other Starlink-related filings, rival operator Viasat estimates the company is seeking authorisation for nearly 49,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, a scale that has become a focal point for critics.

Viasat, one of the most vocal opponents of Starlink’s growth, warned that the proposed expansion could further consolidate SpaceX’s control over limited orbital and spectrum resources. In its submission to the FCC, the company argued that approving the request would give SpaceX greater leverage to crowd out competing satellite operators before they can fully deploy or expand their own networks.

That concern is shared by other players in the satellite ecosystem, who fear that Starlink’s sheer size could reshape the competitive landscape long before rivals have a chance to scale.

Globalstar, which underpins Apple’s satellite-based emergency and messaging features for iPhones, has also raised objections, particularly around spectrum usage. While SpaceX secured a multibillion-dollar agreement last year to use EchoStar’s licensed spectrum within the United States, Globalstar says those same satellites would operate in the 1.6GHz band internationally, a frequency range critical to Globalstar’s global services. The company argues this overlap risks harmful interference, even if it remains technically within regulatory limits.

In its filing, Globalstar said SpaceX’s application lacked a credible interference analysis and noted that the Big LEO spectrum band is already heavily congested, making new or expanded operations increasingly difficult from a technical standpoint.

The dispute underscores that the debate around Starlink’s growth is not only about satellite numbers, but also about how scarce spectrum resources are allocated in an increasingly crowded orbital environment.

Environmental concerns are also gaining prominence in the review process. DarkSky International, an organisation focused on light pollution and the environmental impact of space activity, urged regulators to more closely scrutinise the long-term effects of deploying and eventually deorbiting thousands of additional satellites. The group warned that when satellites burn up during atmospheric reentry, they release metals and other materials into the upper atmosphere, with consequences that are not yet fully understood but could pose risks to the ozone layer.

DarkSky argued that the scale of SpaceX’s proposed constellation could result in millions of pounds of atmospheric pollution over time, calling for more rigorous environmental assessment than has so far been applied. Scientific research into the atmospheric effects of satellite reentry is still evolving, leaving regulators with limited data as they weigh these claims.

Even Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos and often positioned as a competitor to SpaceX, has weighed in. While stopping short of outright opposition, Blue Origin highlighted operational concerns related to SpaceX’s plan to place many of the satellites in very low-Earth orbit, around 330 kilometres above Earth. At those altitudes, satellites could intersect with rocket flight paths, potentially restricting launch opportunities for other providers.

Blue Origin cautioned that an extremely dense low-orbit environment could create unnecessary constraints on launch availability unless accompanied by strict coordination measures. It recommended that the FCC consider approving the deployment in phases, with later stages dependent on evidence that other launch operators would not be adversely affected.

Other objections have come from companies and industry groups such as Iridium, Ligado, and the Mobile Satellite Services Association, reflecting widespread unease across the satellite and space communications sector. Still, this type of resistance is familiar territory for SpaceX, which has faced similar challenges during earlier Starlink expansion efforts and has often succeeded in securing regulatory approval.

Much may depend on the FCC’s current leadership. Chairman Brendan Carr has expressed strong support for large satellite constellations, framing them as strategically important to maintaining U.S. leadership in space, particularly as China accelerates its own satellite deployments. Under his leadership, the FCC is already moving toward easing certain environmental review requirements for large constellations, a shift that could weaken some of the objections now being raised.

SpaceX has yet to publicly respond to the latest round of criticism. The company has consistently maintained that Starlink provides significant public benefits, from eliminating cellular dead zones to delivering connectivity during disasters and in remote regions. It also argues that its satellites are engineered to deorbit safely and burn up completely, reducing risks to people and infrastructure on the ground.

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