SpaceX: Cellular Starlink Service Is Ready to Go
After dozens of rocket launches, SpaceX now has enough satellites in Earth’s orbit to offer commercial services for its cellular Starlink system.
The company today launched another batch of 12 “direct to cell” Starlink satellites into space, bringing the total to over 320, and effectively completing the first stage of the satellite network.
Monday’s launch also signals that SpaceX has enough direct-to-cell satellites circling the globe to offer robust coverage without any gaps. Since January, it’s been launching cellular Starlink satellites to use them as orbiting cell towers that can beam data to phones on the ground.
“Starlink’s new system enables internet connectivity for your mobile phone with no extra equipment or special app,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Sunday. “It just works.”
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The company already activated the satellites last month to offer free emergency SMS texting for hurricane victims in the US. Although the technology only supported texting on a “best-effort” basis, it still connected to 27,000+ phones in hurricane-ravaged areas, resulting in over 250,000 texts sent during the first days of service.
SpaceX is partnering with T-Mobile to offer cellular satellite technology to consumers. But before it can do so, the company needs approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to commercially operate the cellular Starlink constellation. SpaceX also needs the FCC’s clearance to operate the technology beyond the normal radio emission rules; otherwise, it won’t be able to support real-time voice and video calling, the company says.
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In the meantime, T-Mobile’s CEO indicated that his company plans to launch a beta program for the cellular Starlink service “late this year or early into next year.” Pricing has not been announced.
SpaceX plans to first support text messaging through the cellular satellites before powering voice and data sometime next year. Although the cellular Starlink network spans over 320 satellites today, Musk envisions it having thousands, similar to the regular Starlink network.
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