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SpaceX has received regulatory approval to increase the radiated power on two Starlink dish models, which promises to increase the internet speeds they can deliver.
The Federal Communications Commission approved the request on Monday, a year after the company asked for it, “to offer faster and/or more reliable service for users of these devices.”
The change involves the Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), or how much signal the Starlink hardware effectively sends in a given direction. SpaceX requested the increase for two models, the “UT3-V1” and “UT3-V2,” which likely refer to the current Starlink standard dish and portable Mini dish products.
The company can now increase the standard dish’s EIRP from 42.1 to 43.4 decibel watts and the Mini dish’s EIRP from 33.2 to 39.2 dBW, which can presumably boost the speeds over a Starlink connection. Currently, the satellite internet service can offer download rates in the US ranging from 100Mbps up to 300Mbps or more.
The FCC’s approval also applies to both stationary and in-motion use. SpaceX received clearance after submitting several reports to prove the power increase wouldn’t lead to “radiation hazard” and possible radio interference issues.
We’ll be curious to see how SpaceX utilizes the power increase. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, making it unclear if it plans on rolling out the enhancement to existing Starlink dish models or upcoming new hardware.
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In the meantime, SpaceX indicated earlier this year that it was working on three new Starlink products: a follow-up to the Starlink Mini, a gigabit dish, and a refreshed high-performance dish.
In June, the company released a next-generation $2,000 “performance” dish, which will eventually offer gigabit speeds once SpaceX launches new V3 Starlink satellites with its Starship vehicle. Curiously, though, we haven’t noticed the company filing any next-generation Starlink dish applications with the FCC, which might mean SpaceX has been iterating on its existing hardware models.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
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