SpaceX is preparing to expand the coverage of the Starlink Internet by launching beta testing of Direct to Cell (DTC) Starlink satellites, which will allow smartphones to connect to mobile Internet services from almost anywhere on Earth.
SpaceX is preparing to expand the coverage of the Starlink Internet by launching beta testing of Direct to Cell (DTC) Starlink satellites, which will allow smartphones to connect to mobile Internet services from almost anywhere on Earth.
On August 25, 2022, SpaceX and numerous mobile carriers around the world announced a plan to create satellites that would connect directly to users' phones. This would allow messages, phone calls, and data to be transmitted to any point in the world where you can see the sky, writes NASASpaceflight.
In particular, Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov stated that on December 30, 2024, «it has every chance of getting into the textbooks of the history of the development of Ukrainian telecom» due to the signing of an agreement with Starlink on the implementation of Direct to Cell in Ukraine. This technology provides mobile communication via satellite to any smartphone that supports 4G.
This, for example, would allow a person lost in the mountains or desert to call for help, no matter how far away they are from civilization or cell towers. Even before calling for help, the lost person could use the data obtained using Direct to Cell technology to plot a route in a mapping service and return to a safe place.
Starlink satellites with DTC will be equipped with an eNodeB modem, allowing them to act as mobile towers in space. These satellites will instantly transmit data to the Starlink ground network and forward it to partner carrier networks, enabling real-time messaging and phone calls.
DTC-equipped satellites will continue to operate as regular Starlink satellites, expanding connectivity for all Starlink customers with each subsequent launch. The constellation of DTC-equipped Starlink satellites will virtually eliminate blind spots around the world. Additionally, the constellation and its DTC capabilities will work with today’s smartphones and will not require new hardware to support DTC connectivity.
SpaceX has officially requested a special temporary permit to conduct experimental operations on DTC-equipped satellites starting January 27, 2025. This allows for the official start of beta testing for users with regular smartphones on SpaceX’s partner carriers. It is noted that the beta will be a global launch with specific partners around the world.
SpaceX will have until July 26, 2025, to test DTC services for its Starlink satellites during launch, early orbit, orbit lift, and operation.
SpaceX has proven that low-orbit satellite constellations are a viable way to make money in the space industry. Other companies, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, are preparing to launch their first batches of internet satellites into orbit in early 2025. If all goes according to plan, this will only increase competition and provide faster internet speeds for everyone on Earth.
The Starlink constellation currently consists of nearly 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites provide high-speed internet to over 4.6 million people in over 118 countries on every continent. SpaceX launches batches of 20+ Starlink satellites each week, each containing multiple Direct to Cell satellites.
Let us remind you that the agreement between Kyivstar and Starlink on the implementation of Direct to Cell satellite communication is designed for three years with automatic extension.
At the same time, last year, the telecommunications holding Veon, which owns the largest mobile network in Ukraine, Kyivstar, signed an agreement with the British company OneWeb to integrate the company’s satellite services with its terrestrial network in Ukraine.
According to the interlocutor of Forbes Ukraine, the cooperation with OneWeb did not go beyond a few pilots. «After that, there was no progress», — he noted.
