Amazon Asks FCC to Reject SpaceX’s Next-Generation Satellite Plans

Last week, an FCC filing revealed that SpaceX plans to develop a number of second-generation Starlink satellites. However, Amazon is asking the FCC to reject SpaceX’s next-gen satellite efforts, saying that the proposal goes against the regulator’s satellite deployment rules (via Tesla North).

Amazon’s own satellite internet company Project Kuiper hasn’t yet been able to begin producing or launching its satellites, whereas SpaceX has launched over 1,600 satellites into orbit, and already has 100,000 Starlink terminals shipped and about 90,000 users across 12 different countries.

“Turns out Besos retired in order to pursue a full-time job filing lawsuits against SpaceX,” reacted SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to the Amazon protest.

The FCC is not likely to approve Amazon’s request, especially as the FCC already denied Viasat’s earlier requests to halt Starlink launches and Starlink has gained such a wide user-base as well as an increasingly large satellite constellation – which is already expected to provide global coverage around September.

SpaceX’s Starlink is still in beta despite having such widespread users already, with some subscribers in Germany getting speeds of as much as 300 Mbps on downloads.