SpaceX completes Starlink’s first direct-to-cell constellation

SpaceX's Starlink enables satellite direct-to-cell service with 10Mbps speeds.

: SpaceX has launched its first Starlink direct-to-cell satellite constellation, aiming to provide mobile phones with satellite coverage anywhere, including remote areas. The recent launch of 20 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, with 13 capable of direct cell phone communication, marks a significant milestone following a partnership with T-Mobile. The constellation features 6,799 operational satellites, including 330 capable of direct cell phone communication. SpaceX's director announced that these satellites are available to any telecom worldwide, not limited to T-Mobile.

SpaceX successfully completed its first Starlink direct-to-cell satellite constellation launch, enhancing connectivity for mobile phones even in remote places. The launch involved a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 20 satellites, with 13 designed to establish communications directly with cell phones without additional equipment, following the FCC-approved SpaceX and T-Mobile partnership.

The partnership, initially announced in 2022, envisions seamless global connectivity, even in the ocean, by treating the satellite constellation similar to a network's roaming partner. SpaceX announced that these direct-to-cell satellites would immediately leverage Starlink's broader infrastructure to eliminate coverage dead zones and provide reliable communication.

Currently, the constellation features 6,799 operational satellites, with about 330 facilitating direct cell phone communication. Notably, Elon Musk indicated that unmodified phones would achieve 10Mbps per beam, and the company plans future enhancements. SpaceX director Ben Longmier also emphasized these satellites are globally open to any telecom, expanding beyond T-Mobile.

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