The direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communication market is emerging as a highly competitive field, exemplified by the ongoing debates around out-of-band (OOB) power flux density (PFD) regulations. Satellite operators using terrestrial mobile spectrum as a secondary application must adhere to strict PFD limits, which impacts the performance capabilities of D2D services, with significant commercial implications for market players.
The SpaceX predicament
A prominent example is SpaceX, which has deployed over 240 D2D satellites and plans to launch commercial services in partnership with T-Mobile. These services will initially include text messaging and emergency alerts, with plans to expand to voice and data as the constellation grows. However, SpaceX’s D2D constellation does not meet the -120 dBW/m2/MHz PFD limit required under the FCC’s SCS framework. To comply with this limit, SpaceX would need to reduce its transmit power by approximately half (3.1 dB), potentially limiting the capacity and coverage of its D2D services—particularly for high-SNR services like voice and data. To address this, SpaceX has requested a waiver to operate with a modified OOB PFD limit of -110.6 dBW/m2/MHz.
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