EchoStar has met global regulatory conditions, unlocking the S-band sale to SpaceX and paving the way for Starlink’s 20x faster direct-to-device rollout.

This is an important move for SpaceX. The S-band frequencies unlock Starlink’s direct-to-device rollout, aiming for a claimed 20x speed boost. The real benefit is S-band’s resistance to rain fade, and which can hold signals steady through storms where higher bands are more susceptible to fail or suffer call failure. Studies of S-band confirm that its frequencies cut atmospheric loss by up to 50 percent in bad weather, making seamless global connectivity much easier for connectivity in remote spots.

EchoStar’s success in clearing the regulatory hurdles depended on the launch of Lyra-4 satellites back in June which qualified as a ‘Bringing back into use’ (BBIU) after a 90-day qualifying period.

“Completing the BBIU process means all other operators in overlapping frequencies must coordinate with EchoStar under Siron-1 [filings],” EchoStar said, referring to its regulatory filing for 2 gigahertz mobile satellite spectrum rights. EchoStar hailed its BBIU milestone as “a critical step in powering next-generation direct-to-device (D2D) services, particularly in rural and regional areas across the globe.”

EchoStar’s subsidiary, EchoStar Global Australia, completed the BBIU process for the company’s ITU SIRION-1 satellite filing as of October 1st.

EchoStar Global Australia initiated the 90-day BBIU period by successfully launching the Lyra-4 satellite on June 28th, 2025, and bringing it to its intended orbit. The satellite operated at its 650 km altitude for the entire BBIU period from July 3rd  to October 1st.

The Lyra-4 satellite is one of a series of NGSO satellites that have been launched as part of EchoStar Global Australia’s Lyra Constellation.

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Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Spectrum

Tags: Echostar, starlink