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SpaceX is pushing back against accusations that the company’s cellular Starlink system for phones could interfere with other satellites.
According to SpaceX, rival Omnispace is using rigged testing that fails to provide any evidence of harmful radio interference. It "only proves that SpaceX’s direct-to-cell satellites were operating at the time of Omnispace’s tests and detectable under the narrow conditions of those tests, not that SpaceX’s emissions are causing or would cause harmful interference to Omnispace,” the company told the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday.
The company sent the letter to the FCC after Omnispace claimed it had uncovered “empirical evidence” demonstrating the interference risks from SpaceX’s ongoing tests with its growing fleet of “Direct to Cell” Starlink satellites. As a result, Omnispace is urging the US regulator to force SpaceX to cease such tests.
(Credit: Omnispace)In a 43-page filing with the FCC, Omnispace explains it detected the interference in the 1990-1995MHz radio band while using a single “medium-earth orbit” satellite called Omni F2. But SpaceX claims the whole testing methodology is flawed.
“Instead, Omnispace has merely demonstrated its ability to intentionally configure its lone MEO satellite to detect SpaceX’s direct-to-cell emissions,” the company told the FCC on Thursday, later adding: “Omnispace does not claim—or provide evidence to suggest—that SpaceX’s tests have harmfully interfered with any Omnispace service.”
Like SpaceX, Omnispace is also working to bring satellite connectivity to phones, but the company is still waiting to launch its fleet of satellites and remains years away from providing commercial services.
In addition, SpaceX claims Omnispace has so far declined to coordinate satellite activities. “Unfortunately, Omnispace has never explained why it believes it is exempt from requirements to share information through coordination, choosing instead to refuse or ignore each of SpaceX’s requests to coordinate,” the letter from SpaceX says.
However, Omnispace told PCMag that its findings should alarm the FCC since SpaceX is proposing operating thousands of direct to cell Starlink satellites in the coming years.
"Omnispace’s tests were conducted with our F2 satellite in its normal global operating configuration. The interference we measured came from a single SpaceX satellite, operating a single beam, to a single test location," the company argued. "Considering that a fully deployed SpaceX constellation will consist of hundreds to thousands of satellites, the potential for future interference would be exponentially greater."
"If Starlink were to choose another band, we’d have no complaints. We support SCS (Supplemental Coverage from Space) so long as the frequency selection does not result in interference to other SCS or MSS authorizations," Omnispace added. "SpaceX is operating on a 'cause no interference' basis, and as such is responsible to protect the operations of existing and future legally operating satellite systems across the globe."
The FCC has so far declined to comment on the matter. In the meantime, SpaceX is aiming to launch the cellular Starlink service for T-Mobile customers later this year, with the goal of connecting users in remote areas.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a response from Omnispace.