SpaceX’s Elon Musk has announced that the company’s direct-to-cell Starlink satellite constellation is now complete, paving the way for its launch with partner T-Mobile. The next step will be T-Mobile activating the service for its customers.
According to Musk, the Starlink constellation currently spans over 6,000 satellites and provides bandwidth per beam of only around 10Mb. However, future constellations will be much more capable. The company has launched around 320 cellular-capable Starlink satellites in the past year, which are now ready to begin connecting to phones.
T-Mobile officials have hinted that they might add satellite connections as an additional perk on their more expensive service plans, rather than charging an extra fee for the offering. It’s unclear how T-Mobile’s satellite services will work alongside Apple’s emergency satellite messaging services, but the iPhone maker has extended its free period into 2025.
AT&T and Verizon have also expressed interest in SpaceX’s Starlink technology, with AT&T planning to use AST SpaceMobile’s satellites for similar services. The FCC has given regulatory approval for SpaceX’s cellular ambitions, allowing the company to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the US via T-Mobile’s 1910-1915MHz and 1990-1995MHz bands.
The launch of Starlink’s direct-to-cell service is seen as a significant development in the industry, with potential benefits including increased access to emergency services in remote areas. However, questions remain about how T-Mobile will roll out the service and what it might cost to use.
Source: https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/t-mobile-s-direct-to-cell-satellite-constellation-is-ready-to-go