SpaceX Allegedly Forces Satellite Operators to Share Spectrum, Faces Antitrust Concerns

On October 10th Beijing time, according to The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk's SpaceX, a major rocket launch company globally, is leveraging its position to force competing satellite operators to share wireless spectrum. This shows that SpaceX can use its market power in one area to boost the development of another part of its business.

According to informed sources, SpaceX requires satellite operators such as KeplerCommunications and OneWeb to share the so-called spectrum rights with its Starlink broadband Internet business, and only then agrees to send these companies' equipment into orbit.

For Starlink, reaching a spectrum sharing agreement is crucial, which helps provide high-quality Internet connections to its more than 4 million users when expanding services in the global market.

Informed sources said that in recent months, lawyers from Wilson Sonsini have represented some satellite and rocket companies to meet with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, asking the DOJ to pay attention to these agreements reached by SpaceX. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss whether SpaceX is abusing its market power.

The SpaceX spokesperson responded that the company cannot force another satellite operator to reach a spectrum coordination agreement nor impose unfair terms because relevant agreements must be approved by the government to ensure their fairness. We have always been committed to promoting a competitive broadband market environment and a robust space launch economy, the spokesperson said.