Fight Seen Brewing Over 1.6 GHz as Iridium Petitions FCC for Greater Access
Citing a need for more spectrum to keep up with mobile satellite service (MSS) competition, Iridium asked the FCC to update its rules for and give the satellite operator more access to the 1.6 GHz band, including spectrum used by Globalstar.
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In a petition posted Monday, Iridium said its satellites can operate in 1616-1626.5 MHz, but its authorization is limited to 1618.725-1626.5 MHz. It sought approval to operate in the 10.5 MHz swath where it can't now, as well as permission to share an additional 6 MHz of the band -- 1610-1616 MHz -- with Globalstar's MSS system. Globalstar didn't comment Monday.
Satellite and spectrum consultant Tim Farrar said in an email that Globalstar opposition is likely. Iridium's petition is a move to slow approval of Globalstar's proposed C-3 constellation (see 2502280001), he said, and SpaceX will likely continue to pursue access to the 1.6 GHz band as well.
Farrar also said the big question is how much overt support Apple will offer, given its relationship with Globalstar, which provides direct-to-device (D2D) service for later-model iPhones. Some of Apple's management have reportedly been equivocal about building its own D2D constellation with Globalstar and might prefer to throw in their lot with SpaceX, Farrar added.
The FCC Space Bureau shot down a SpaceX request in 2024 to operate in the 2 GHz, 1.6/2.4 GHz and 2020-2025 MHz bands, saying the 2007 plan for the 1.6/2.4 GHz bands "does not envision" another MSS system operating there (see 2403270002). Globalstar has argued that the 1.6 GHz band can't support more than one MSS system (see 2507160017).
In its petition, Iridium said it's "committed and confident" that it can share uplink spectrum authorized to Globalstar without causing harmful interference. "Advances in sharing techniques and technologies will enable the two operators to share successfully when Iridium launches its third-generation system."
Greater access to the 1.6 GHz band would mean greater competition in the MSS space, Iridium added. Globalstar will still have 22.5 MHz of spectrum across the L and S bands, and other MSS operators are using or about to use "vast swaths of spectrum below 2.5 GHz," Iridium said. Given AST SpaceMobile's deal to use up to 66 MHz of Ligado's L-band MSS spectrum for D2D service and SpaceX's purchase of rights to 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum for D2D service, more spectrum for Iridium would help it "keep up with its competitors’ efforts to expand their spectrum positions," the company said.
Iridium also said its petition is unlike SpaceX's. The latter "contemplate[d] the introduction of a massive new [satellite] system in the band, which would dramatically alter the current interference and operating environment that the Commission has carefully calibrated over the years -- an environment that Iridium and Globalstar have planned their operations around."