Key Highlights:
- Starlink & T-Mobile Tango π°οΈπ: Joining forces for a nearly seamless U.S. cellular coverage!
- Tech Challenges Ahead π οΈπ: Starlink’s next mission? Launching new microsatellites for optimal compatibility.
- Stellar Rivals Emerge ππ: Apple and Qualcomm gear up to give Starlink a run for its money in the satellite cell race!
Heard about Starlink’s game-changing satellite cellular service? Well, grab your front-row seat to witness the future of communication. We’re talking “never lose a bar” level connectivity, folks. πβ¨
Starlink Satellite Cell Service: A New Dawn π°οΈ
Remember when we said goodbye to landlines and said hello to mobile phones? Now, it’s time to wave the future in. Starlink, in a groundbreaking move, is launching its much-talked-about satellite cell service named Direct-to-Cell. Initial rollout? Set for SMS in 2024. By the sound of it, you’d think they’re just floating the idea, but a peek at their promotional material reveals an ambitious goal: offering unparalleled access to texting, calling, and web surfing. Whether you’re mountaineering, cruising a lake, or enjoying a beach day, Starlink’s got your back. But wait, there’s more! IoT devices can also hitch a ride on this connectivity bandwagon via the LTE standard.
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Teaming Up with T-Mobile: A Cellular Tango ππ
Last August, the air was thick with anticipation at the “Coverage and Above and Beyond” event. Why? Starlink and T-Mobile announced their team-up. In a show of goodwill and savvy business acumen, T-Mobile’s sharing a slice of its 5G spectrum pie with Starlink’s next-gen satellites. The catch? T-Mobile phones get VIP access to Starlink’s satellite network. Result? An almost blanket coverage of Uncle Sam’s land. Remember Elon Musk’s tweet during that event? He was buzzing about the “Starlink V2” launching on select mobiles and even in Tesla vehicles. Imagine driving across the Mojave and still managing to stream your favorite podcast. Musk seemed ecstatic, claiming, “No more dead zones!”However, a slight recalibration in timelines occurred during a 2023 chat at the Satellite Conference, with Starlink’s bigwig Jonathan Hofeller mentioning testing in 2023 instead of full-fledged operations.
Starlink V2, which weβre beginning to launch, will greatly improve bandwidth. Latency & jitter will also get much better.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2023
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The Tech Hurdle: Compatibility Issues & More π οΈ
All’s not rosy in Starlink’s garden. Their existing 4,265 satellites aren’t chummy with the new cell service. Solution? Launch a fresh fleet of microsatellites with the essential eNodeB modem. As the sky gets more crowded with these satellites, a buffet of voice and data features will rain down.
Rivalry in the Stars: Who Else is in the Race? ππ
Direct-to-Cell isn’t walking this path alone. Apple, not one to be left behind, introduced its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in iOS 14. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite is also flexing its muscles, showering Android users with texts from the heavens courtesy of the Iridium constellation. The stakes? Sky-high. Competition? Red-hot. As Lynk Global’s head honcho Charles Miller rightly quipped, satellite cell service could be the “next big thing in satellites.”
Sergio Richi
Editor, Logll Tech News