The FCC has approved an application by WorldVu Satellites Limited d/b/a OneWeb to access the US satellite market for satellite broadband services in remote and rural areas. The FCC indicates that the approval is “the first of its kind for a new generation of large, non-geostationary-satellite orbit (NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems.” OneWeb proposes to use its network of 720 low-Earth orbit satellites using the Ka (20/30 GHz) and Ku (11/14 GHz) bands to provide global Internet connectivity. OneWeb’s satellite system is authorized by the United Kingdom but needs FCC approval for service in the US. The FCC indicates that it established various conditions for operations by OneWeb, and that it is considering other similar applications for NGSO FSS constellation operations that include large numbers of satellites.
