SpaceX is under fire for its Starshield satellite network, developed for national security. According to NPR, the company may be violating international telecommunications standards by using Starshield’s unauthorized frequency. This situation serves as a reminder that the company must comply with international regulations, even for its secret network.

How was the Starshield unauthorized frequency use discovered?

These allegations are based on the findings of Scott Tilley, an amateur satellite tracker. Tilley observed that Starshield satellites were broadcasting on frequencies normally reserved for “uplinks” from Earth to satellites. This use directly violates standards established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations’ radio spectrum coordinator.

Standards regarding which frequencies to use for uplink and downlink transmissions to satellites were established to prevent technical problems and, in particular, interference. “Nearby satellites could experience radio frequency interference and perhaps fail to properly respond to or ignore commands from Earth,” Tilley told NPR. It’s currently unknown whether SpaceX’s violation of these rules has caused any problems. However, a potential cause for potential communication issues is now being identified.

Starshield is a secret version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network offered to government agencies “in support of national security efforts.” SpaceX’s first major Starshield project was a $70 million contract with the U.S. Space Force in 2023. Also in early 2024, reports emerged that SpaceX’s Starshield division had been tasked with building spy satellites for the Department of Defense’s National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

So, what are your thoughts on this move by SpaceX? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!