SpaceX plans Starlink broadband for trucks, boats and aircraft [Updated]

Updated at 18:00 ET: Although a SpaceX submission stated that Starlink terminals “could be used on passenger vehicles”, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said indicated on Twitter today that passenger cars are not in the plan. “We do not connect Tesla cars with Starlink because our terminal is far too large. It is for aircraft, ships, large trucks and RVs,” he wrote.

The original story follows:

SpaceX on Friday asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to deploy Starlink satellite broadband in moving vehicles.

The application describes SpaceX’s plans for Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) for cars, ships and aircraft. SpaceX said it’s looking[ing] authority to deploy and operate these earth stations … throughout the United States and its territories … in the territorial waters of the United States and in all international waters worldwide, and … on aircraft registered in the USA and worldwide and non-US registered aircraft operating in US airspace. “

“The award of this application will serve the public interest by authorizing a new class of ground components for SpaceX’s satellite system that will expand the range of broadband capabilities available to moving vehicles throughout the United States and the moving vessels and aircraft worldwide,” said SpaceX. the FCC. Internet users are no longer ‘willing to give up connections while on the go, whether they’re driving a truck across the country, transporting a cargo ship from Europe to a US port, or on a domestic or international flight, said SpaceX.

‘Electrically identical’ to Starlink home terminals

The application stated that terminals on vehicles would be similar to the Starlink satellite dishes designed for home internet services, with some important differences:

SpaceX Service ESXs are electrically identical to the previously authorized consumer terminals, but have a confirmation that they can be installed on vehicles, vessels and aircraft, which are suitable for those environments. SpaceX Service ESIMs will only communicate with the SpaceX satellites visible above a minimum elevation angle of 25 degrees. The proposed Phase Settlement User Terminal will detect SpaceX’s NGSO [non-geostationary orbit] satellites moving within its field of view. As the terminal sends the steering beam, it automatically changes the power to maintain a constant level at the receiving antenna of its target satellite, which compensates for variations in antenna gain and path loss associated with the steering angle.

The ESIM terminal could be deployed “on passenger vehicles or pleasure boats,” SpaceX said in a radiation hazard analysis submitted with the application. ESIM terminals can also be deployed on “the masts of ships or the tops of semi-trucks that are not generally accessible to the public.” The devices “comply” and will not result in exposure levels exceeding the applicable radiation hazard limits, “SpaceX said.

SpaceX’s application noted that it already has FCC permission to deploy up to 1 million terminals in the US. The requested license that allows terminals on moving vehicles will apparently not increase the total number of terminals. But SpaceX has separately asked the FCC for permission to increase its number of terminals from 1 million to 5 million.

While Starlink can set up home internet service by users themselves, this may not be the case with Starlink for moving vehicles. SpaceX said it would “ensure the installation of ESIM terminals on vehicles and vessels by qualified installers who are aware of the antenna’s radiation environment and the measures best suited to the protection of the general public and persons operating the vehicle and use equipment, to maximize. “

The ESIMs will transmit in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band and be received in the 10.7-12.7 GHz band, and they will share the rules of the spectrum division to avoid interference with other spectrum users, said SpaceX. SpaceX is already struggling with Dish Network over Dish’s claim that Starlink could interfere with satellite TV and 5G mobile services that could eventually be allowed within the 12 GHz range.

Starlink for Tesla (and other) cars

Starlink terminals for moving vehicles can theoretically be installed on any car. But Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, will have a special interest in bringing Starlink to Tesla vehicles.

“Tesla’s electric cars are connected to the Internet for features such as video streaming and updates on the air, and today the company even offers a ‘Premium Connectivity’ service as an option, ‘reads an article from Teslarati on SpaceX “With Starlink’s ability to connect to the Internet in a moving vehicle, Tesla no longer has to rely on its mobile Internet providers for its cars.”

Musk tweeted in October 2020 that Starlink can be deployed on fast-moving vehicles. “Everything is slow to a phased array antenna,” he wrote at the time.