SpaceX has been teasing a mobile network service. Now, a webpage for the Starlink Direct to Cell service is up, detailing how the service will work.
According to the official webpage, the Starlink Direct to Cell service will offer “ubiquitous coverage” to texting (starting 2024), voice and data (2025), and IoT (2025) whether you’re on land, water, or anywhere where cell coverage is bad or beyond reach.
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To send signal coverage to anyone across the world, the service will use the company’s Starlink Satellite Network which can essentially eliminate dead zones in remote regions.
The image above shows how the texts, calls, and data are transmitted from the partner operator network to the Starlink Ground Network, go up to the satellite network, and then down to a standard, unmodified cellphone of the user.
Direct to Cell satellites will be first launched into space using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and soon using the SpaceX Starship. Once up in space, they will instantly connect to the Starlink constellation using laser backhaul to provide connectivity globally.
Starlink has already teamed up with different telcos to bring Direct to Cell service in some counties. There’s T-Mobile for the United States, Rogers for Canada, KDDI for Japan, Optus for Australia, One NZ for New Zealand, and Salt for Switzerland. More partners in more markets shall hop on board soon.