# FCC clears Starlink Mobile for global roaming

> SpaceX wins regulatory approval to offer international telecom services, setting the stage for satellite-based cellular competition worldwide.
- Title: FCC clears Starlink Mobile for global roaming · PCMAG
- Summary: SpaceX wins regulatory approval to offer international telecom services, setting the stage for satellite-based cellular competition worldwide. SpaceX can now…
- Keywords: spacex, starlink mobile, fcc approval, international telecommunications, satellite cellular, t-mobile, kddi, global roaming, 5g from space, femtocells, at&t, cellular competition
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/news/fcc-opens-door-to-starlink-mobiles-global-roaming-ambitions
- Author: Michael Kan
- Published: 2026-09-17T23:23:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: spacex, starlink mobile, fcc approval, international telecommunications, satellite cellular, t-mobile, kddi, global roaming, 5g from space, femtocells, at&t, cellular competition
## FCC approves Starlink's global ambitions
The Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX's application to offer international telecommunications services, specifically to support Starlink Mobile's global expansion.
## Starlink Mobile goes beyond T-Mobile
Currently available through T-Mobile as T-Satellite, Starlink Mobile will upgrade to next-generation satellites offering 5G speeds up to 150 megabits per second from orbit.
## SpaceX targets global carrier status
SpaceX's CFO said Starlink Mobile could eliminate dead zones and offer global roaming via satellites. CEO Elon Musk has previously discussed making Starlink a global carrier.
## KDDI partnership announced in Japan
On the same day as the FCC approval, SpaceX announced a deal with Japanese telecom KDDI to offer Starlink Mobile V2, promising one hundred times the data density.
## Carriers dismiss satellite threat
T-Mobile and AT&T argue Starlink's satellites cannot match cell tower coverage. Industry experts are also skeptical of SpaceX's plan to use small ground-based radio equipment called femtocells.
## Global expansion now legally possible
The FCC approval grants SpaceX authority to offer services in dozens of countries where Starlink subsidiaries operate across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
## Key takeaway

SpaceX can now legally offer Starlink Mobile across international markets, positioning it as a potential global carrier rival to traditional telecom companies.