High above the Earth, a quiet but consequential contest over invisible frequencies is unfolding — one that will help determine who governs the next era of global connectivity. SpaceX has asked the FCC to block Viasat's new F2 satellite from operating in shared radio spectrum, arguing that six years of failed coordination have left millions of Starlink users exposed to interference that would disrupt their service roughly a third of the time. The dispute is not merely technical; it is a test of whether regulatory conditions carry real weight when commercial ambitions collide in the crowded skie
SpaceX Petitions FCC to Block Viasat Satellite Over Starlink Interference Risk
Viasat has failed—and even refused—to coordinate with SpaceX for years
Mark
Why does it matter that Viasat's satellite orbits so much higher than Starlink's? Doesn't radio interference work the same way regardless of altitude?
Mimi
The altitude determines how the radio signals interact with Earth. Starlink's satellites are close enough that their signals are relatively contained. Viasat's F2 is so far out that its transmissions spread over a much wider area, which is why the same spectrum bands create a collision problem.
Luke
But we should be clear: SpaceX is citing Viasat's own technical analysis to claim one-third interference. We don't have independent verification of that number, and Viasat hasn't had a chance to respond to the specific claim yet.
Mark
So Viasat has had six years to work this out. Why hasn't it?
Mimi
That's the question SpaceX is asking the FCC. The license conditions required coordination, but Viasat apparently decided not to pursue it seriously. Maybe they thought they could operate anyway, or maybe they believed their technical case was strong enough that interference wouldn't be an issue.
Luke
We don't actually know Viasat's reasoning. The petition says they haven't coordinated, but Viasat might argue they tried and SpaceX was unreasonable, or that their technical case doesn't require coordination. We're only hearing SpaceX's side right now.
Mark
What happens if the FCC sides with SpaceX?
Mimi
The F2 satellite can't legally operate in those frequency bands in the U.S. until Viasat reaches a coordination agreement. That could delay the September launch indefinitely, or force Viasat to operate in different spectrum where it might not perform as well.
Luke
The FCC could also ask for more technical analysis, or give Viasat a deadline to coordinate rather than blocking it outright. We don't know what the Commission will actually do yet.
Mark
Why is Amazon involved in this?
Mimi
Amazon is launching its own satellite internet service and needs the same spectrum bands. If Viasat can operate without coordinating, Amazon faces the same interference risk. So they have a direct stake in whether the FCC enforces its coordination rules.
Luke
Though it's worth noting that Amazon also benefits if Viasat is blocked—one fewer competitor in the market. So their complaint, while technically valid, also serves their commercial interest.
Le Pouls
- SpaceX formally petitioned the FCC to reverse its conditional approval of Viasat's F2 satellite, warning that the spacecraft will disrupt Starlink service for customers across the Americas roughly one-third of the time in shared frequency bands.
- Despite six years and an explicit FCC license condition requiring coordination agreements before launch, Viasat has reportedly made no genuine effort to negotiate with SpaceX or Amazon — a posture SpaceX's satellite policy chief called an 'utter disregard for Commission rules.'
- Amazon, building its own Project Kuiper constellation in the same spectrum bands, has filed parallel complaints, amplifying the pressure on Viasat and signaling that the coordination failure extends beyond a single rivalry.
- The FCC's own conditional language now becomes the fulcrum: Viasat cannot legally begin transmitting in the disputed bands until it certifies compliance — meaning the agency could halt the satellite's September commercial launch before it ever sends a signal.
- For Viasat, already losing subscribers to Starlink's faster speeds, a regulatory reversal would compound a deepening competitive crisis; for SpaceX and Amazon, the outcome sets a precedent for how shared orbital spectrum will be governed for years to come.
High above the Earth, a quiet but consequential contest over invisible frequencies is unfolding — one that will help determine who governs the next era of global connectivity. SpaceX has asked the FCC to block Viasat's new F2 satellite from operating in shared radio spectrum, arguing that six years of failed coordination have left millions of Starlink users exposed to interference that would disrupt their service roughly a third of the time. The dispute is not merely technical; it is a test of whether regulatory conditions carry real weight when commercial ambitions collide in the crowded skies above us.
SpaceX filed a formal petition with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday seeking to reverse the agency's approval of Viasat's F2 satellite, which is scheduled to begin commercial service next month. The company argues that F2 will cause severe radio interference to Starlink's network, disrupting service for customers approximately one-third of the time in the 18.8 to 19.3 GHz frequency bands that both systems share.
The dispute turns on a narrow but fiercely contested slice of spectrum. Starlink operates in low-Earth orbit at roughly 350 miles altitude, while Viasat's F2 sits in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles up — a difference in position that does not eliminate the interference risk when both systems use the same frequencies. The FCC granted Viasat conditional permission to operate in the U.S. market in late July, but explicitly required the company to first reach coordination agreements with other satellite operators, including SpaceX.
SpaceX's vice president of satellite policy, David Goldman, wrote in the 25-page petition that Viasat has had more than six years to negotiate such an agreement and has shown no genuine intention of doing so. Amazon, which holds FCC authorization to use the same bands for its Project Kuiper constellation, has filed similar complaints, noting that Viasat's technical filings fail to demonstrate adequate protection for next-generation satellite systems.
The FCC's conditional approval contains explicit language prohibiting Viasat from transmitting in the disputed bands until it certifies compliance with coordination requirements — language that now serves as the regulatory pivot point. If the complaints gain traction, the agency could reverse its decision before F2 ever goes live. For Viasat, which has been steadily losing ground to Starlink, the stakes extend well beyond a single satellite launch.
SpaceX filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday asking it to reverse its approval of Viasat's new F2 satellite, arguing that the spacecraft will inflict severe radio interference on Starlink's growing network of internet-beaming satellites. The F2 is scheduled to begin commercial service next month, promising download speeds exceeding 100 megabits per second to customers across the Americas—a direct challenge to Viasat's market position as Starlink has been steadily pulling away its subscribers.
The core dispute centers on a narrow slice of radio spectrum: the 18.8 to 19.3 GHz and 28.6 to 29.1 GHz bands. Starlink has long held FCC authorization to use these frequencies for transmitting data between its satellites and ground stations. Viasat wants to use the same spectrum for its F2 satellite, which orbits much higher—more than 22,000 miles above Earth, compared to Starlink's low-Earth orbit of roughly 350 miles. In late July, the FCC granted Viasat permission to operate in the U.S. market, but only on the condition that the company first reach a coordination agreement with other satellite operators, including SpaceX, to prevent harmful interference.
SpaceX's vice president of satellite policy, David Goldman, contends in the 25-page petition that Viasat has had more than six years to negotiate such an agreement and has made no genuine effort to do so. According to SpaceX's analysis of Viasat's own technical filings, the F2 satellite would cause downlink interference to Starlink customers approximately one-third of the time when using the 18.8 to 19.3 GHz bands. Goldman wrote that Viasat's "utter disregard for Commission rules, its license conditions, and the harm it is causing to millions of American consumers has gone on for far too long." He added that despite SpaceX's good-faith attempts at coordination, Viasat has refused to engage and shows no intention of doing so.
Viasat did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company faces pressure from multiple directions: SpaceX's formal challenge is now joined by Amazon, which is developing its own low-Earth orbit satellite internet service called Project Kuiper. Amazon has filed similar complaints with the FCC, noting that Viasat's technical analysis fails to demonstrate protection for Amazon's system or other next-generation satellite operators using the same spectrum bands. Amazon's constellation was cleared to use those same frequencies in 2020.
The FCC's own conditional approval of the F2 includes explicit language: Viasat must not begin operations in the disputed frequency bands until it notifies the Commission of compliance with coordination requirements. That language now becomes the pivot point. If SpaceX and Amazon's complaints gain traction, the FCC could reverse its decision before the F2 ever transmits a signal. For Viasat, which has been losing ground to Starlink's superior speeds and expanding coverage, the delay could prove costly. For SpaceX and Amazon, the petition represents a critical moment in establishing whether the FCC will enforce its own coordination rules or allow a higher-orbiting satellite to operate in spectrum already allocated to low-Earth orbit systems.
Citations marquantes
Viasat's utter disregard for Commission rules, its license conditions, and the harm it is causing to millions of American consumers has gone on for far too long.— SpaceX VP of satellite policy David Goldman, in FCC petition
Despite SpaceX's good faith efforts, Viasat has failed—and even refused—to coordinate with SpaceX for years.— David Goldman
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