Senate advances satellite security bill as NTN standards and Starlink expansion accelerate
The U.S. Senate passed the Secure Space Act of 2026, which would bar the FCC from issuing satellite licenses, market access, or earth-station approvals to companies on its Covered List and their affiliates. Standards bodies and firms such as GCF, MSSA, Particle, and Skylo are working on testing and certification to improve interoperability across NTN systems. Starlink is expanding direct-to-device service in markets including Africa, while Japan and Europe are developing competing satellite connectivity ecosystems.
The Senate approved S. 1962, the Secure Space Act of 2026, by unanimous consent on September 23. It would update a 2019 communications security law so the FCC could not grant satellite or earth-station authorizations to Covered List firms or their affiliates. Huawei, ZTE, and several Chinese carriers are named on that list. The FCC would have one year to write rules.
Industry groups GCF and MSSA agreed to cooperate on certification and testing for 3GPP-based NTN services, covering 5G NR, NB-IoT, and broader D2D links over LTE and 5G. Particle’s M635e module, certified by Skylo, combines LTE-M and 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NB-NTN satellite fallback. Starlink is expanding D2D in Africa, while Japan and Europe pursue rival systems.
The bill could tighten who may operate satellite links connected to U.S. networks, potentially affecting Covered List vendors, their partners, and customers relying on those systems. Certification efforts may improve interoperability and roaming, which could help IoT deployments, remote coverage, and emergency communications. Starlink’s expansion and competing regional systems may alter access and market dynamics, though outcomes depend on implementation, standards adoption, and geopolitics.