Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed on Tuesday, December 23, the adoption of new regulatory frameworks allowing satellite operators to use higher power levels for direct-to-cell (D2C) services.
The policy adjustment, part of a 2025 year-end review, is designed to enhance the robustness of satellite-to-smartphone connectivity by addressing technical link budget constraints.
The announcement was included in a broader summary of the agency’s 2025 “Space Month” initiatives, which saw the Space Bureau process 3,418 applications, a 21 percent increase over the previous year. Chairman Carr also highlighted the final regulatory clearance and completion of the SES acquisition of Intelsat, a $3.1 billion transaction that established a combined fleet of approximately 120 satellites across geostationary (GEO) and medium Earth orbits (MEO).
Technical Revisions and Spectrum Access
A central component of the policy review involves the modification of Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits. These legacy rules were originally established to prevent low Earth orbit (LEO) systems from interfering with GEO incumbents. The FCC stated that modernizing these constraints could increase satellite broadband capacity by up to 180 percent by allowing more intensive spectrum use.
The commission also moved to harmonize rules for Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum, teeing up nearly 20,000 megahertz of bandwidth for satellite broadband. This shift supports operators like SpaceX, which recently filed to expand its Starlink constellation with 15,000 additional satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) to provide ubiquitous D2C connectivity.
Operational Impact on Global Operators
The regulatory updates coincide with a period of significant industry consolidation and technical milestones:
- Market Consolidation: The SES and Intelsat merger, completed in July 2025, created a multi-orbit operator with a pro forma combined revenue of €3.7 billion.
- Deployment Milestones: AST SpaceMobile successfully deployed its BlueBird 6 satellite on December 23, representing its first next-generation Block 2 spacecraft with a large-scale commercial array.
- Strategic Partnerships: Starlink entered a preferred provider agreement with Proximus Global in November 2025 to interconnect European mobile network operators (MNOs) with satellite-to-mobile services.
“The regulatory friction that once defined the FCC’s interaction with the commercial space sector is being systematically stripped away,” the agency stated in its year-end report. “This is no longer an agency acting as a gatekeeper; it is positioning itself as a launchpad.”
Regulatory Outlook for 2026
The FCC has formally initiated “Part 100” rulemaking to replace the existing Part 25 framework. This transition aims to move from a manual, “bespoke” licensing process to a modular, industrialized model capable of managing the scale of modern mega-constellations.
Further decisions regarding spectrum sharing and the implementation of the “Build America” agenda are expected as the commission coordinates with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on national security commitments.
