SpaceX has formally submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting approval to launch and operate a third-generation satellite constellation consisting of 100,000 satellites. This system is described by SpaceX as "a powerful, resilient, and ubiquitous communication infrastructure" capable of handling the majority of global internet traffic, with the goal of becoming the foundational communication network for the AI era.

The scale of the third-generation constellation is nearly ten times larger than the second-generation Starlink constellation, which has been authorized for approximately 12,000 satellites and currently has over 7,000 in orbit. This means that SpaceX is transitioning from a satellite internet service provider focused on connecting remote areas and airplane Wi-Fi to a major infrastructure player that will support global internet traffic.

Two orbital shell layers + new frequency bands, capacity targeting billions of devices

According to the application documents, the third-generation constellation will be deployed in two closely stacked orbital shell layers, located at altitudes of 323 to 327.5 kilometers and 473 to 477.5 kilometers, respectively. The orbital inclination covers 26 degrees to 96.9 degrees, with the latter approaching a sun-synchronous orbit, allowing flexible adjustments to the orbital design based on coverage needs, polar regions, and varying market traffic distribution.

In terms of frequency resources, SpaceX, in addition to the already authorized Ku, Ka, V, and E bands, has further applied for the development of the W and D bands between 92 GHz and 275 GHz. In the documents, SpaceX explains that to provide capacity for billions of people and AI-driven devices, it is necessary to significantly expand backhaul capabilities, and the development of these new frequency bands will provide critical support for this purpose.

Space communication + ground AI, Musk aims to build a closed-loop ecosystem

For SpaceX, the application for the third-generation constellation is not only an upgrade of communication infrastructure but also provides strategic support for its AI business. The company previously acquired Anysphere, the developer of the AI coding application Cursor, for 6 billion dollars, and its Grok large model is rapidly evolving. A network of 100,000 satellites will provide a global low-latency data transmission channel for these AI services.

Thus, the outline of the "space communication + ground AI" closed-loop ecosystem is gradually taking shape: the satellite network handles global data transmission, while AI models like Grok handle data processing and interaction, forming a competitive barrier that is difficult for others to replicate. Of course, the progress of FCC's approval will be key to determining whether this grand plan can be implemented. However, SpaceX's Starship launch capability is rapidly maturing, and if the application is approved, its annual capacity to launch thousands of satellites will provide practical engineering feasibility for the deployment of the third-generation constellation.