SpaceX Seeks US Access for PCS G Block Payloads

As part of its partnership with T-Mobile to provide satellite-to-cellular service (see 2208260038), SpaceX asked the FCC for U.S. market access for its German-licensed direct-to-cellular hosted payloads to communicate on an unprotected, noninterference basis in the 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands with mobile handsets already authorized to use those PCS G-block frequencies. In an International Bureau application Tuesday, SpaceX said its satellite-to-handset cellular operations will meet broadband PCS service technical limits "and thus will be indistinguishable from terrestrial PCS G-block operations from an interference perspective. "The system will merely put already assigned spectrum to more intensive use by allowing it to be received in locations where it cannot be received today," SpaceX said. It said the direct-to-cellular payload will be aboard a 2,016-satellite subset of the second-generation non-geostationary orbit constellation. It said the payload will support text messaging, voice service and basic web browsing over three to four 1.4 MHz bandwidth channels or one 5 MHz channel, both for downlinks and uplinks. It requested a waiver to use the 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands since they lack a satellite allocation under the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations.