Carriers and Satellite Companies at Odds on Millimeter Wave Spectrum

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2026 – The mobile industry and satellite companies are still at odds on how best to share spectrum the carriers use for extra capacity in crowded venues and urban centers.

Satellite operators like Elon Musk ’s SpaceX want easier access to the airwaves, something the carriers say would upend the licenses they collectively spent billions acquiring.

The Federal Communications Commission sought comment last month on new sharing rules for Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service (UMFUS) spectrum, which encompasses the airwaves sold in the agency’s millimeter wave auctions. It’s in the 24 GigaHertz (GHz), 28 GHz, upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, 47 GHz, and 50 GHz bands and currently allocated for sharing between terrestrial mobile operators and fixed-satellite service.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now