Although SpaceX asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) several months ago to allow the launch of its Starlink satellite cellular service this fall, the service will likely not be available from its partner, US mobile operator T-Mobile, until next year.
Image source: Starlink
T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert told CNBC that a beta program to implement satellite cellular communications in partnership with Starlink could begin later this year or early next year.
Sievert did not provide a reason for the delay, but the mention of a beta program suggests that T-Mobile will first launch cellular service using Starlink satellites on a small scale before rolling out the service more widely.
SpaceX’s official website says the company will offer customers the ability to exchange text messages via satellites this year, and will launch voice and data support in 2025.
SpaceX previously said it needed about 300 Direct-to-Cell Starlink satellites in orbit to launch a satellite cellular service in the U.S. On Friday, the company launched another batch of Direct-to-Cell satellites, bringing the total number in orbit to more than 200. It’s possible that the Starlink Direct-to-Cell constellation will reach 300 this year, but the service won’t launch without FCC approval.
The company is also asking the regulator to loosen restrictions on radio waves to improve coverage and enable real-time video and voice calls, a move that AT&T and Verizon have opposed, arguing that it would interfere with land-based mobile networks.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
