Updated: May 21 2024 21:07SpaceX has successfully demonstrated its first Starlink phone-to-phone video call without the need for any special hardware. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the company's efforts to provide Starlink-backed satellite cell service, which aims to revolutionize connectivity in areas with limited or no cell coverage.
The video call demo showcased the
Starlink Direct to Cell satellite functionality. During the video call, participants were able to communicate seamlessly, highlighting the potential of this technology to bridge the gap in cellular connectivity. See below the demo video posted on Twitter/X:
SpaceX Partnership with T-Mobile
SpaceX's collaboration with T-Mobile, initially
announced in August 2023, is set to bring this innovative service to the masses. The two companies have expressed their excitement about going live with the service later this year, with a targeted launch in 2024.
While phone manufacturers like Apple have recently integrated satellite calling features for emergency purposes, the SpaceX and T-Mobile partnership stands out by offering full phone usage capabilities in areas without traditional cell coverage. This means that users will be able to make calls, send texts, and access data services even in the most remote locations.
Eliminating Dead Zones and Enhancing Connectivity
With over half a million square miles of the U.S. and vast stretches of ocean currently unreachable by terrestrial network coverage, this new service aims to provide customers with a crucial additional layer of connectivity when and where they need it most. The goal is to eliminate the need for customers to worry about mobile dead zones or carry expensive satellite phones. Instead, Un-carrier customers will be connected nearly everywhere they can see the sky, using the phone they already have in most cases.
Navigating Regulatory Hurdles
To move forward with their plans, SpaceX has been actively engaging with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In a
letter addressed to the FCC, David Goldman, SpaceX's vice president of satellite policy, urged the commission to expedite the approval process for their request to use T-Mobile's PCS G Block spectrum for Supplemental Coverage from Space.
SpaceX and T-Mobile are poised to bring the massive benefits of ubiquitous coverage to millions of American consumers through their supplemental coverage from space partnership. This partnership will leverage T-Mobile’s exclusive, nationwide PCS G Block spectrum and SpaceX’s next-generation satellite capabilities to extend the reach of T-Mobile’s mobile service to its subscribers wherever they are, including in remote areas that for too long have lacked connectivity. Now that the comment cycle has closed, SpaceX and T-Mobile urge the Commission to follow through with its commitment to process innovative supplemental coverage applications by expeditiously approving SpaceX’s modification application.
SpaceX has provided evidence to the FCC to demonstrate that its direct-to-cell service will not interfere with existing terrestrial and planned space operations. The company is confident that its technology can coexist harmoniously with other services, ensuring a seamless experience for users.
However, competitors like Dish Network and AT&T have raised concerns about potential disruptions to their operations. Omnispace, a company with similar ambitions, may also face challenges if the SpaceX and T-Mobile alliance comes to fruition. In the
Omnispace letter to FCC on May 17 2024, it says:
In tests of its proposed supplemental coverage from space service at 1990-1995 MHz, experimental authorization holder Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) is causing harmful interference to the primary, Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) operations of Omnispace, LLC (Omnispace). SpaceX, which must operate on a non-interference basis, transmits harmful cochannel emissions from its satellites into Omnispace’s MSS satellite receiver. SpaceX’s operations violate the terms of its experimental authorization and must cease.1 SpaceX is also operating at variance with its authorized parameters in violation the Communications Act and Commission rules. Enforcement is warranted.
Timeline and Future Developments
While the exact timeline for the rollout of this service remains uncertain, T-Mobile customers can look forward to the possibility of staying connected even in the most remote areas in the near future. The partnership between SpaceX and T-Mobile has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about cellular connectivity.
It's worth noting that Apple has already introduced satellite phone functionality in its iPhone 14 lineup, powered by Globalstar. However, the SpaceX and T-Mobile solution differs by being compatible with all smartphones, making it more accessible to a wider range of users.
As for pricing, details have not yet been disclosed. Apple currently offers its Emergency SOS service for free for two years, but it remains to be seen how much the company will charge customers in the future. Similarly, the cost of the SpaceX and T-Mobile service is yet to be determined.
T-Mobile and SpaceX's shared vision extends beyond the U.S., with the goal of providing truly universal coverage worldwide. Last year, they issued an open invitation to wireless providers globally to expand the initiative with reciprocal roaming. At the announcement, five wireless providers have joined the alliance to launch Direct to Cell technology, including KDDI (Japan), Optus (Australia), One NZ (New Zealand), Rogers (Canada), and others, with more expected to follow. See below the updates from KDDI shared at MWC 2024. The successful demonstration by SpaceX and the ongoing collaboration with T-Mobile mark an exciting chapter in this journey, promising to keep us connected no matter where we venture.
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