U.S. communications authorities have begun establishing rules to allow satellite operators to directly hold mobile communication frequencies, enabling direct communication (D2D) between satellites and terminals. This institutional reform grants independent licensing status to satellite operators, providing a boost to companies like SpaceX and Amazon. In South Korea, preparing satellite D2D systems in anticipation of the hyper-connected communication era has emerged as a key task.
According to the communications industry on the 5th, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently passed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on D2D rules at a full commission meeting. The core proposal expands the bands for “Satellite Coverage Supplement (SCS),” where satellites connect directly with smartphones via terrestrial base stations, from 5 to 13 bands, adding a 482 MHz bandwidth.
The key change is the shift in licensing structure. The existing SCS system, introduced in 2024, allowed satellite operators to lease frequencies from terrestrial carriers under derivative rights. The new proposal converts SCS into an independent license with geographic zones, performance requirements, and renewal regulations.
This enables satellite operators to directly acquire terrestrial frequency licenses for D2D services, effectively allowing them to operate mobile communication services.
This move is expected to strengthen the D2D competitiveness of satellite operators like SpaceX and Amazon. SpaceX's $17 billion acquisition of a 65 MHz band from EchoStar, followed by its recent $8 billion purchase of an 800 MHz band license from Global Eagle Entertainment, is seen as strategic preparation for this structure.
However, the FCC left the 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz bands (290 MHz of the 482 MHz total) using Time Division Duplexing (TDD) open for public comment, considering opposition from existing carriers over potential frequency interference.
Kwon Oh-sang, head of the Digital Future Research Institute, stated, “D2D leadership depends on who holds the frequency rights used by satellites. Unlike the UK and Japan, where carriers remain gatekeepers, the U.S. is pursuing policies that guarantee satellite operators independent status to hold terrestrial frequency licenses.”
South Korea has only established systems for low-orbit satellite broadband, but lacks a framework for satellite D2D using terrestrial IMT bands, including frequency allocation and technical standards.
The Korea Information and Communications Development Institute (KISDI) emphasized, “Major countries like the U.S. and UK have prepared regulatory frameworks to allow terrestrial mobile frequencies for satellite D2D. The South Korean government needs to establish target bands, collaboration procedures, and interference management standards to protect terrestrial networks.”
