Starlink, the satellite internet service of Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, is reportedly preparing to expand its services by catering to mobile users.

SpaceX sent an application to the FCC last Monday to operate a mobile satellite service using Starlink’s constellation of satellites.

So, how will it work? It is said that the Starlink satellites will beam the data directly to mobile users on Earth, instead of using the traditional cell towers and base stations.

SpaceX explains that they have the capability to do such feat after it acquired a California startup company called Swarm, which has expertise in nano-satellites that provides internet to IoT devices in rural areas.

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For its rollout, SpaceX plans to add a “modular payload” on its Starlink satellite. The add-on has a 2GHz radio band to enable its proposed mobile satellite service.

However, SpaceX didn’t detail how it will actually work in a consumer level. Albeit, they hinted that it may involve offering a portable device that will connect to the satellite.

Moreover, the filing says that the system will “leverage existing ground equipment and user terminals” for the Starlink service while “adding new eart-station equipment to optimize performance for consumers.”

This could mean that the mobile internet service will be an add-on product.

As for the quality, SpaceX claims that it  “will provide service with latency below 50 milliseconds, which is nearly unnoticeable to consumers.”

The goal is to ensure that “all Americans —even those in Polar Regions— enjoy the same low latency mobile services,” SpaceX added.

“And consumers are not the only beneficiaries of this improved service. For many Federal users, satellite service is the only communications option to support critical missions. Improving capacity and latency for these users could have significant national security benefits. All of these services are in the public interest.”

Meanwhile, Starlink’s satellite internet continues to expand as they recently launched a Maritime plan. Earlier, the company also launched an RV plan for mobile homes. Starlink is expected to start its commercial rollout in the Philippines by Q4 of 2022.

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