NEWS: The FCC upheld exclusive rights for established satellite companies in key radio frequencies and rejected applications from SpaceX, Kepler, Sateliot, and AST SpaceMobile. The bands in question (Big LEO at 1.6/2.4 GHz, 2 GHz, and L-band) have long been reserved for traditional satellite phones. Companies like Globalstar and Iridium have invested about 28 billion dollars building systems there. The FCC ruled these lanes stay exclusive to the current owners for now, citing interference risks as satellite-to-phone technology grows. The decision blocks part of SpaceX’s plans to use those same frequencies for independent Starlink direct-to-cell service. SpaceX’s main U.S. partnership with T-Mobile uses entirely different spectrum and remains fully on track.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​