The first six satellites will be launched to launch SpaceX's 'Direct to Cell' service, which allows you to use the satellite communication service Starlink directly from your smartphone



The first six units are being developed by SpaceX and T-Mobile, a major American communications carrier, to realize '

Direct to Cell, ' a service that allows existing smartphones to use SpaceX's satellite communication 'Starlink' directly. Starlink satellite was launched on January 3, 2024. With this launch, it is said that text messages will become available even in areas where mobile phone reception was weak or unreachable.

- SpaceX - Launches
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-9



First SpaceX Satellites Launch for Breakthrough Direct to Cell Service with T-Mobile - T-Mobile Newsroom
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/first-spacex-satellites-launch-for-breakthrough-direct-to-cell-service-with-t-mobile

Elon Musk's SpaceX Launches First Cell Service Satellites With T-Mobile - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-03/spacex-launches-first-cell-service-satellites-with-t-mobile

SpaceX launches 5G direct-to-cell connection on Starlink satellites
https://spaceexplored.com/2024/01/03/spacex-launches-5g-direct-to-cell-connection-on-starlink-satellites/

SpaceX announced on January 3, 2024, the successful launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carrying a total of 21 Starlink satellites.




According to SpaceX, 6 of the 21 Starlink satellites launched this time are compatible with Direct to Cell.




Direct to Cell allows you to connect your existing LTE-enabled smartphone to your mobile network anywhere you can see the sky. Connections also require no hardware or software changes, and no specific apps are required. Therefore, mobile communication is possible even in areas where the signal is weak or not reachable with conventional mobile lines.

Plans for Direct to Cell were first announced in August 2022.

SpaceX and T-Mobile announce plans to enable direct communication between mobile phones and Starlink satellites - GIGAZINE



After that, in October 2023, a page about Direct to Cell was published on SpaceX's official website. In December 2023, we received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test Direct to Cell.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said, ``With this launch, we will be able to connect to mobile phones anywhere on the planet.'' On the other hand, Mr. Musk emphasized, ``While it is an excellent solution for areas where radio waves do not reach, the line speed is limited to a maximum of 7Mbps, so it is not competitive with existing networks.''




According to Starlink, Direct to Cell will first launch text message sending services in 2024, followed by voice calling and data communication services in 2025.

'The launch of this Direct to Cell satellite is an exciting milestone in demonstrating our technology,' said Sarah Spangello, Director of Satellite Engineering at SpaceX. We look forward to rapidly expanding.” 'This launch is a pivotal moment for SpaceX and our global partners,' said Mike Katz, T-Mobile's president of marketing, strategy and products. We will continue to work towards this end.'

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