By 2024, mobile coverage with Starlink satellites will be a reality. This new service already has a name, it will debut as ‘Direct to Cell’ and it is about providing satellite coverage to users with an LTE (4G) mobile. Although, at the moment, it is only known that it will initially arrive in up to 6 different countries that will use the special roaming network. But, starting next year, it will be a reality.
For some time now, the company has been working hard on this project with which it wants to take a step forward in the world of communications. And it aims to provide satellite connection to smartphones and thus achieve the goal of being closer to having a completely connected world.
Satellite mobile telephony
Starting next year, the ‘Direct to Cell’ service will be launched. Although it will not be completely complete until 2025. This mobile satellite coverage will serve during the first year of use to send text messages. And it will not be until 2025 when their use can be expanded to make calls and browse the Internet with the smartphone.
The main objective of this project is that mobile phones can have a connection at all times, even in the most remote areas of the world. However, it will not be available in all countries once it is released starting next year. In fact, Starlink has announced which are the first 6 operators and countries in which you can enjoy this mobile satellite signal: T-Mobile in the US, Optus in Australia, Rogers in Canada, One NZ in New Zealand, Kddi in Japan and Salt in Switzerland.
Just as it cannot be used beyond text messages as we have seen until 2025. And the best of all is that it differs from the usual satellite solutions in that it will not require special hardware so that 4G phones can have good access to text, voice and data.
How it will work from 2024
This service, which they have called ‘Direct to Cell’ from Starlink, will debut in those 6 countries with different operators. And it will do so to offer a service to send text messages with 4G mobile phones. Starting next year, that is, in 2025, it is expected that mobile Internet can be provided by satellite and that it will have a speed of 2 to 4 Mbps. In this way, basic Internet use can be offered for those users who move through different areas where it is difficult to be connected to a land connection.
On the other hand, the signal that will be given to users is of the LTE type, a technology used by 4G. Therefore, to enjoy this service you need to have, at least, a smartphone that can connect to 4G. Something that is already normal. In this case, the satellites have an eNodeB modem that acts like a cell tower, but in space. And, initially, the Starlink network for this service will be launched with the Falcon 9 rocket and will later be expanded to Starship.
