Is there a way to ping (@) forum members in reply? I think there are a few people with direct experience from the VSAT and telecom industries - maybe they can share what the regulations apply in the Ocean, which may answer why Lynk states "continuous global coverage" and "anywhere on Earth", while Starlink limits coverage to "on land, lakes, or coastal waters"...
OK, but what are the requirements to send/receive LTE and 5G signals outside the territorial waters - are they the same in the EEZ and outside EEZ? Who even can issue such worldwide "license" - have the ITU members allocated frequencies among themselves or what?
There are no worldwide licences
BREAKING NEWS! FCC Approves in Part, Defers in Part SpaceX's Feb. 07, 2023 application to provide "Commercial" Direct 2 Device service. Providing SpaceX with "First Mover Advantage" in the D2D marketplaceSATMOD2023020700021
More on SpaceX D2D "Scope of Grant"The most important. "Authority to Launch"This Grant authorizes SpaceX for the Launch of "Modified" satellites (up to 7,500 Gen. 2) into the three authorized Gen. 2 orbital parameters and allows "limited on-orbit check out in the PCS G Block of the satellite buss and antenna deployment for a period of 10 days or less. This authority does not permit LEOP operations. Only the initial 10 day check out period on orbit.This authorization was the first necessary step in the process. You can not authorize the "launch of satellites" on a STA. So this is the purpose of this License Grant. SpaceX will need to perform LEOP operations shortly after the payloads are past the initial checkout period. That is where the new STA SpaceX applied for today 12/01 comes into play.SES-STA-INTR2023-06753"SpaceX will conduct its payload testing activities during the launch and early orbit phase (“LEOP”) of the satellites’ mission. During the critical check-out phase, which will begin within hours of launch at an altitude between 290 km and 350 km—depending on the particulars of the specific launch—and will continue for several weeks for each satellite, SpaceX will test the functionality of each direct-to-cellular payload and its network capabilities to ensure that they are operating as intended. Permitting this initial, internal LEOP check-out testing over several weeks (or longer as necessary) for each satellite is critical to assess and address issues as they arise."Then eventually they will transition to the previously filed STA on October 2nd. for wide-spread testing with TMobile.SAT-STA-20231002-00240"Direct-to-cell STA to launch and test its non-geostationary orbit NGSO second generation Gen2 satellites with direct-to-cellular communications payloads to connect unmodified cellular phones directly to SpaceX Gen2 satellites"Every D2D operator that will provide service to the US will require authority to launch from the FCC.
Correct. 10 days, then the STA will be approved foe LEOP testing, 30 days, renewable. The take away is, you can't launch on a STA. Because you can not easily "unlaunch them" if the STA is not renewed. Watch for a series of filings next week for D2D missions @FCC. I suspect that the 800 satellite number will include at least 1 Starship launch.
BREAKING NEWS! FCC Approves in Part, Defers in Part SpaceX's Feb. 07, 2023 application to provide "Commercial" Direct 2 Device service. Providing SpaceX with "First Mover Advantage" in the D2D marketplace<snip>
The sequencing of all of these requests and licenses and what they mean are a bit confusing.
Quote from: RedLineTrain on 12/02/2023 07:09 pmThe sequencing of all of these requests and licenses and what they mean are a bit confusing.SAT applications apply to satellites, SES (Satellite Earth Station) applications apply to user terminals/user equipment and ground/gateway stations.SAT-MOD-2023-0207-00021 partial grant allows them to launch and perform initial check out.SAT-STA-2023-1002-00240 filed on Oct 2nd will allow them to test direct-to-cellular payload for 60 days before and after the satellites reach operational orbits. It does not cover ground equipment. Closer to the license expiration date SpaceX will most likely file an STA extension request for another 60 days.SES-STA-2023-06753-INTR filed a few days ago will allow them use 5 link testing devices, 5 cellular probes, and 50 standard cell phones for 30 days across 5 locations. The application complements SAT-STA-2023-1002-00240. They may file to extend it later.2398-EX-ST-2023 will allow them to test for 180 days using 2,000 standard phones across 13 locations and near radio telescopes. It is bigger in scope than SES-STA-2023-06753-INTR. Maybe SES-STA-2023-06753-INTR was filed because SpaceX does not expect the FCC to approve 2398-EX-ST-2023 before Dec 10.
Quote from: raptorx2 on 12/02/2023 12:10 amBREAKING NEWS! FCC Approves in Part, Defers in Part SpaceX's Feb. 07, 2023 application to provide "Commercial" Direct 2 Device service. Providing SpaceX with "First Mover Advantage" in the D2D marketplace<snip>So we will get notice of the Starlink Group 8-1 launch soon.
This is not limited to Group 8. SpaceX may launch to Group 6 or Group 7 with a D2D payload, but the only indication for us would be that there are fewer satellites than 22 (from Vandenberg) or 23 (from the Cape) on the launch.snip.. In a separate e-mail to the FCC (attached), SpaceX stated that it plans to launch 840 D2D satellites in the next 6 months. That's about 50 launches of the heavier satellites, which seems to suggest that all of Starlink launches will now orbit D2D satellites, no matter the group.Indeed, SpaceX continues to file D2D analyses with the full 30,000-satellite Gen2 constellation, indicating that it still is gunning for the full constellation and is not content with the 7,500-satellite Gen2 constellation licensed to date.Altogether, it is apparent that SpaceX is going full force into D2D and that the FCC is not yet the limiting factor. If the FCC has not acted on the full D2D modification by the end of Summer next, it might start to crimp SpaceX's efforts.
So here is my speculative viewpoint on this data.Tranche #1 is already on orbit. The launch from Vandenberg on Friday = brings the total of V2.0 Minis launched to date to the magic number ~840. my opinion, these were launched under the before-mentioned "German licensed payload" authority noted in their original Dec. 2022 FCC [D2D] filing. These Tranche #1 [D2D payloads] are not subject to FCC authority, there is no "US Market Entry" for these Tranche #1 payloads.. These will be operated in International Markets Only.Now, they have completed Tranche #1 German licensed payloads, now they must launch (due to FCC rules and lease requirements) another Tranche #2 that is more or less duplicative of Tranche #1 that is US-flagged to provide service to the US AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL MARKETS approved by the FCC.If anyone believes that it has taken SpaceX more then 15 months to design and build a [D2D} "2 way messaging/messaging app" capable satellite, while Lynks is doing [D2D] Messaging and Voice from what is effectively a Cube Sat. Then I will say they are either crazy, or SpaceX is incompetent.
Quote from: raptorx2 on 12/09/2023 07:31 pmSo here is my speculative viewpoint on this data.Tranche #1 is already on orbit. The launch from Vandenberg on Friday = brings the total of V2.0 Minis launched to date to the magic number ~840. my opinion, these were launched under the before-mentioned "German licensed payload" authority noted in their original Dec. 2022 FCC [D2D] filing. These Tranche #1 [D2D payloads] are not subject to FCC authority, there is no "US Market Entry" for these Tranche #1 payloads.. These will be operated in International Markets Only.Now, they have completed Tranche #1 German licensed payloads, now they must launch (due to FCC rules and lease requirements) another Tranche #2 that is more or less duplicative of Tranche #1 that is US-flagged to provide service to the US AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL MARKETS approved by the FCC.If anyone believes that it has taken SpaceX more then 15 months to design and build a [D2D} "2 way messaging/messaging app" capable satellite, while Lynks is doing [D2D] Messaging and Voice from what is effectively a Cube Sat. Then I will say they are either crazy, or SpaceX is incompetent.If what you describe as Tranche #1 includes a German-licensed payload, I suspect that it is rudimentary. The F9-3 configuration is a full 170 kg more than the F9-2 V2 mini configuration and has an almost double bus length. That said, I recognize that even a rudimentary payload could be useful.More than 15 months is a long time for SpaceX and Swarm Technologies, but we are talking about designing, manufacturing, and integrating a phased array with custom silicon. Meanwhile, one-half of the D2D leadership (Ben Longmier) was on a crash course to design and manufacture the argon thrusters for the V2 satellites. I would forgive a bit of lag time to introduce.
Well, here is a new "variable" to add to the equation Starlink D2D equation.When the Experimental applications for 6-36, 6-37, 6-38 (Operations beginning Dec. 15th) were filed six weeks ago. I glossed over them as they have become a very routine read.But, I missed a very salient change. Credit Salo for picking up this change.Starlinks 6-36, 6-37, 6-38 are now RTLS.
SpaceX is excited to begin launching and testing its innovative new direct-to-cellularcapabilities, which will bring ubiquitous connectivity to consumers throughout the country andaround the world. Perhaps the most critical part of this testing will occur in the first few weeksafter launch, when SpaceX will assess the initial functionality of its direct-to-cellular antennas.These robust initial check-out tests align with well-established space sustainability best practicesthat the Commission has repeatedly found in the public interest.To swiftly identify and respond to issues as they arise, these initial check-out tests requireflexibility, including the ability to test from a variety of locations and using a diversity of devices.1Geographic flexibility will enable SpaceX personnel to conduct check-out tests as the satellitesphase across the sky in their early orbits, moving ground equipment as necessary for each satellitepass or in the event of difficulties at any particular location. Each type of ground device will alsoplay a unique and essential role in the initial check-out testing. For example, the link-testingdevices will aid reliable satellite contact during the initial post-deployment period. The cellularprobes will help ensure that the satellite phased array hardware and software are functioning well.And standard cell phones will help determine whether the satellite antenna is functioning asintended using those devices’ unique modems and off-the-shelf specifications. Together, thesedevices will allow SpaceX to conduct a thorough suite of check-out tests that are necessary toensure initial functionality of the satellite antenna.
