Regulatory Hurdles and the Path to 2026
Commercial satellite navigation systems in the United States require approval from two federal agencies: the Federal Communications Commission for spectrum use and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for remote sensing. Xona has already applied for experimental licenses and is working with the FCC to obtain primary spectrum allocation for its L-band signals. Company officials have set a target of 2026 for commercial service, but the regulatory process itself is expected to take several years. The FCC, created by the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate radio and wire communications, now oversees broadband, satellite use, and public safety. It replaced the Federal Radio Commission and took over duties from the Interstate Commerce Commission. Xona’s experimental license applications now sit in the queue at the agency’s Washington headquarters alongside those of competitors, each representing a bet that the next generation of navigation technology will come from low Earth orbit and that the U.S. regulatory system can keep pace with that ambition.
The company must also comply with international frequency coordination through the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency that manages global spectrum use. This adds another layer of complexity and timeline uncertainty to the approval process. By nightfall at the FCC, paperwork continues to move through the system, but no firm timeline has been set for final decisions.
Competition and Military Interest in LEO Navigation
Xona is not alone in pursuing LEO-based positioning, navigation, and timing. The California-based startup faces competition from TrustPoint, another California firm, and Satelles, which uses the Iridium satellite network. Each company is betting that a new generation of LEO satellites can supplement—or eventually rival—the Global Positioning System that has underpinned civilian and military navigation for decades. The U.S. Department of Defense has expressed interest in LEO PNT as a complement to GPS. The Space Force’s Space Systems Command has already awarded contracts to study LEO PNT concepts, signaling that the military sees value in diversifying its navigation infrastructure beyond the traditional medium Earth orbit satellites that currently support GPS.
Diversifying navigation infrastructure reduces reliance on a single satellite layer, a concern that has grown as potential adversaries develop anti-satellite capabilities. The U.S. government now manages the radio frequencies required for these signals through the FCC, which was created to regulate radio and wire communications and has since expanded its role to include satellite use.
Internationally, China’s BeiDou system and the European Union’s Galileo system already provide global PNT services, but both use medium Earth orbit satellites. Xona’s system must also comply with international frequency coordination through the ITU, adding another layer of complexity and timeline uncertainty. These international dimensions mean that even after U.S. regulatory approvals, the company will need to navigate global spectrum agreements before its signals can operate without interference.
The competitive landscape underscores the growing interest in LEO navigation as a complement to traditional MEO-based systems. Success for commercial providers like Xona ultimately depends on securing spectrum allocations and coordinating frequencies through the International Telecommunication Union—a process that could take years and will test whether the U.S. regulatory system can accommodate the ambition of next-generation navigation technology.
