SpaceX wants to bring its Starlink service to the seas

In a letter to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SpaceX director of satellite policy, David Goldman, sought approval to take its existing Starlink satellite internet service on the move, with connections on vehicles, vessel and aircraft.

SpaceX already has approval to launch and operate a 4,400-strong constellation of satellites to provide broadband internet services; its sister company has the FCC’s approval to operate up to a million earth stations which allow end-users to connect to the satellite network and access the internet. For now the approval only covers fixed stations.

The company’s March 5 request seeks permission to put SpaceX’s end-user terminals as Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMESs), Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs), and Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAAs).

For its ESVs, SpaceX wants the FCC to greenlight use of its terminals on vessels in US territorial waters and throughout international waters worldwide.

The terminals themselves will be electrically identical to those currently in use by consumers, but with specific mounts to suit their deployment, the letter said. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk clarified on Twitter that the stations would only be suitable for larger vehicles, owing to the size of the terminal.

“Consumers are interacting with broadband platforms in an increasing variety of ways. No longer are users willing to forego connectivity while on the move, whether driving a truck across the country, moving a freighter from Europe to a US port, or while on a domestic or international flight,” Goldman said in his letter.

SpaceX has over 1,100 satellites in orbit and is already providing broadband internet to businesses and consumers in a beta phase.

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