The FCC has granted OneWeb authorisation to launch another 1,280 satellites. Along with its existing authorisation given in 2017 for 720 satellites, this would take the company to a fleet of 2,000 satellites over the US.
OneWeb made the application for the extra spacecraft in 2017. It covers access to the 37.5-42 GHz (space-to-Earth), 47.2-50.2 GHz (Earth-to-space), and 50.4-51.4 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands, spectrum rights also extended to its existing authorisation. The satellites are planned to be used for delivering satellite-based broadband services to the public.
FCC rules require the company to launch at least 50 percent of the fleet within six years and the full constellation within nine years. Since the application in 2017, the company has requested an even larger authorisation in the US, which is still pending.
