Elon Musk’s SpaceX has initiated a revolutionary step in global communication by launching the maiden fleet of satellites intended to facilitate universal mobile phone connectivity. In this recent launch, 21 cutting-edge Starlink satellites took flight, with six specifically engineered to support the innovative 'Direct to Cell' service. The announcement was first made by the company in 2022. This move aims to bolster worldwide connectivity and eradicate cellular dead spots.
"The six Starlink satellites on this mission with 'Direct to Cell' capability will further global connectivity and help to eliminate dead zones," the company posted on X.
They'll enable SpaceX to test it with ordinary 4G LTE-compatible phones on T-Mobile in the US, before the text messaging service goes live in multiple countries this year. SpaceX will then add voice and data (and IoT devices) later in 2025 as more D2C satellites come online.
"This will allow for mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth," posted Musk.
Musk also explained, "Note, this only supports 7 MM per beam and the beams are very big, so while this is a great solution for locations with no cellular connectivity, it is not meaningfully competitive with existing terrestrial cellular networks."
satellites with Direct to Cell features will provide access to texting, calling, and browsing from anywhere. The company also said that Direct to Cell will help IoT devices to connect with common LTE standards.
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