FCC has “serious doubts” that SpaceX can deliver latencies under 100ms

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The Federal Communications Commission said it has "serious doubts" that SpaceX and other low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers will be able to deliver latencies of less than 100ms.

As we reported yesterday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai backed off a plan that would have completely prevented SpaceX and other LEO companies from applying for rural-broadband funding as low-latency providers. But the FCC's full order was released today and suggests that SpaceX will have a tough time convincing the commission that its service will deliver latencies below the FCC standard of 100ms.

The final version of the FCC order acknowledges that LEO satellites have "intrinsic advantages" over geostationary satellites that operate at much higher altitudes. "Satellites in low-Earth orbit are not subject to the same propagation latency limitations as higher orbiting satellites," the FCC order said. But the order goes on to say the FCC has "serious doubts that any low-Earth orbit networks will be able to meet the short-form application requirements for bidding in the low-latency tier" and that companies like SpaceX thus face a high chance of being rejected when they apply for funding as low-latency providers:

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