FCC Approves Swarm Technologies Deployment of 150 LEO Satellite Constellation

Originally published on Telecompaper

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given Swarm Technologies permission to deploy and operate a non-voice, lower earth orbit (LEO) satellite system for mobile-satellite services. The permission was specifically granted for a constellation of 150 NVNG (non-voice, non-geostationary) LEO satellite, for the provision of mobile satellite services (MSS). Swarm wants to operate the satellites using frequencies in the 137-138 MHz (space-to-earth) and 148-149 MHz (earth-to-space) bands.

Swarm CEO and co-founder Sara Spangelo told TechCrunch that it now hopes to get its entire constellation into orbit by the end of 2020. 

With its approval, the FCC dismissed comments by Orbcomm, that Swarm would be using its spectrum. The FCC found that this was not the case and that Orbcomm was trying to extend control over these frequencies. SpaceX filed a comment, asking if Swarm had fully addressed its orbital debris footprint. In particular, SpaceX said Swarm’s satellite might pose a rise to the International Space Station. The FCC said it was satisfied with the steps taken by Swarm to address these concerns. 

TechCrunch noted that the FCC was earlier concerned that Swarm’s palm-sized SpaceBEE satellites would be too small to track. The commission fined the company last year for launching test satellite without approval.