The application was filed on March 5, with SpaceX stating that the expansion of Starlink would benefit the public. David Goldman, SpaceX’s director of satellite policy said that the Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) would be electrically identical versions of the $499 antenna systems that are already being sold to beta customers.
In the statement issued to the FCC, SpaceX says, “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 U.S. port, or while on a domestic or international flight. To help meet this demand, SpaceX has deployed an innovative, cost-effective and spectrum-efficient satellite system capable of delivering robust broadband service to customers around the world, particularly in unserved and underserved areas.”
CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk said in a tweet that the ESIM terminals would be too big to mount on cars but are still suitable for larger vehicles like trucks and ships.
To date, SpaceX has launched over 1,100 satellites and continues to deploy its system.
