good news for SpaceX. Elon Musk’s signature has received permission of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for bring Starlink internet to moving vehicles. This means that this service can be implemented in planes, ships and land vehicles such as cars, trucks and trailers.

Without a doubt, this is a very important novelty for the American company, which has already been waiting for this approval for a few months. So far, Starlink’s service delivery has status limited to terminals in fixed locations.

And while it’s true that antennas can be moved for remote use, without necessarily being a home or office, the company hasn’t been given the green light to provide its internet access to on-the-go transportation.

But the authorization granted by the FCC promises to be a game-changer for SpaceX. The company has shown particular interest in the introduction of Starlink internet on commercial flights and has already tested it. In fact, in April it began testing in the US via Delta Airlines; however, still missing the Okay from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify receivers to be installed on aircraft.

An important point to note is that SpaceX wasn’t the only company authorities allowed to bring its satellite internet to moving vehicles. the canadian firm Kepler Communications It also received a similar clearance, although limited to vessels that navigate both US territorial waters and international waters.

Starlink satellite internet, a step closer to commercial flights and other forms of mobility

Here’s how the FCC evaluated the connectivity services that Starlink and Kepler Communications intend to offer:

“We agree with SpaceX and Kepler that it would be in the public interest to conditionally grant their requests. Authorizing a new class of terminals for SpaceX’s satellite system will expand the range of broadband capabilities to meet the growing demands of users”, who now need connectivity. on the go, whether driving an RV across the country, moving cargo from Europe to a US port, or on a domestic or international flight, Kepler will provide much-needed connectivity for vessels in the territorial waters of Hawaii and Alaska and in remote areas of the world, including the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. »

Federal Communications Commission

Undoubtedly, these authorizations promise to have a very significant impact on consumers; especially in the case of Starlink and its implementation on commercial flights. If Elon Musk’s company manages to bring its satellite internet to major airlines, will radically change the landscape of in-flight connectivity.

Keep in mind that internet connection options on air travel are still extremely limited. Upload and download speeds are very slow and the services are outrageously expensive for the quality of service you get. It is true that some airlines allow free access to frequent flyers or members of programs linked to certain credit cards. However, ordinary people still have to spend a large sum of money to interact with your email or social networks. And that’s just part of what can change from Starlink’s hand.

Let’s not forget that in some countries, in-flight internet is limited to intercontinental travel; no short-term plan to implement it locally or regionally. In these cases, the best travelers can hope for is to connect to the plane’s Wi-Fi to access the media streaming system via airline apps (which often malfunction).

So far, Starlink has overcome a major regulatory hurdle to bring its satellite internet to moving vehicles. Undoubtedly, this will mean a very significant expansion opportunity for SpaceX, starting with commercial aviation but not limited to it.