Starlink, known for providing global internet connectivity via satellites, is expanding its services to offer cellular connectivity through a new offering called Starlink Direct to Cell. This service, set to launch next year, aims to keep users connected even in remote locations.
The initial phase of this service, starting in 2024, will allow LTE phones to send text messages. Subsequently, it will expand to include voice calls, data transmission, and support for IoT devices like smartwatches in 2025. Notably, customers won’t require a different phone, firmware update, or a dedicated app. Starlink’s Direct to Cell will function on existing devices, provided they have a clear line of sight to the sky, without obstructions interfering with the satellite signal.
Starlink plans to deploy satellites equipped with the Direct to Cell capability at scale using SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. While the service is initially positioned for businesses in need of remote cellular connectivity, it is not yet available on the company’s Personal usage website at the time of writing.
Collaborative Efforts: This concept may sound familiar to some because Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX (Starlink’s parent company), and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert announced plans for Direct to Cell last year, although it did not have a name at that time. Sievert explained that the service would be available in “the lower 48 [of the United States], vast parts of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and territorial waters.” This coverage includes national parks and areas where obtaining a cell phone signal is typically challenging, such as deserts.
Since that announcement, SpaceX has entered partnerships with telecommunications companies worldwide, including Rogers Communications in Canada and Optus in Australia.
Potential Beta Program: T-Mobile’s press release from August 2022 indicated the possibility of a beta program in select areas by the end of 2023, encompassing SMS, MMS, and participating messaging apps. However, Starlink’s website does not mention a beta program, leaving room to speculate that the idea may have been postponed or was not yet ready.
As of now, there is no exact launch date specified for 2024. SpaceX has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expedite the processing of satellite applications. However, the FCC has an extensive backlog of over 56,000 satellite applications, indicating that it may take some time to move forward with the service. Additional information will be provided in a future update.
