In January 2024, SpaceX launched the first set of Starlink satellites capable of providing direct-to-cell connectivity. The direct-to-cell Starlink constellation is now ready to offer LTE coverage from space. Although this is just an initial beta offering, it boasts 10 times the reach of any other satellite operator providing similar services.
Cell signal everywhere. Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology operates differently from traditional broadband Starlink satellites. It functions like cell towers in space, allowing for messaging and data services in areas that previously had no cellular coverage.
Companies such as Apple, Huawei, Google, and Samsung have offered similar emergency services through partnerships with satellite operators. However, Starlink extends these capabilities to include video calls from remote locations around the globe.
SpaceX is doing it all. Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology is possible thanks to SpaceX, which launches two to three batches of satellites each week using its reliable, partially reusable Falcon 9 rockets. This consistent launch schedule gives SpaceX a competitive edge. It allows the company to deploy nearly 7,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, representing 80% of all mass launched into space. That number continues to grow.
Starlink is already profitable, providing low-latency Internet to 4.6 million customers in 118 countries. The first direct-to-cell satellite constellation has gone live, significantly expanding SpaceX’s potential charge for its services.
Testing. SpaceX received authorization from the Federal Communications Commission to conduct an experimental test of the direct-to-cell Starlink satellites from Jan. 27 to July 26, 2025.
According to SpaceX, this test will help the company evaluate the performance of its direct-to-cell technology and plan for full deployment.
How it works. Each direct-to-cell satellite is equipped with an eNodeB modem, the same technology used by cell phone antennas. This allows the satellite to communicate directly with users’ phones and forward the information to Starlink’s terrestrial network.
Direct-to-cell satellites are integrated with the rest of the Starlink constellation through laser connections, eliminating the need for additional terrestrial infrastructure. The transmit power required to communicate with a phone is just 0.2 watts, which is significantly lower than what’s needed to connect satellites.
These satellites provide broadband Internet while also offering cellular coverage functionality. Users don’t require any special accessories to connect, given that the system uses standard LTE/4G technology on frequencies in the 1.6-2.7 GHz range. The frequencies are supplied by SpaceX’s partner operators, including T-Mobile in the U.S. and Entel in Chile and Peru, among others.
SpaceX is challenging its competitors. Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology wants to leverage SpaceX’s strengths to eliminate most cellular “dead zones.” The goal is to establish agreements with carriers to offer service to their customers when terrestrial signals are unavailable.
Additionally, there are numerous potential customers in the industrial, maritime, and agricultural sectors who can’t use traditional dish antennas. These customers could benefit from Starlink satellites, which enjoy lower latency compared to traditional companies that operate satellites in geostationary orbit. While Starlink satellites orbit at approximately 340 miles, geostationary satellites operate at an altitude of 22,400 miles.
Differentiate or die. Amazon is preparing to launch the first operational Project Kuiper satellites in early 2025 and increase its launch frequency once Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket becomes fully operational. Meanwhile, smaller companies are seeking ways to set themselves apart and avoid direct competition with SpaceX.
In Europe, Spain’s Sateliot is building a constellation of 5G satellites designed specifically for Internet of Things devices. In the Netherlands, Telesat and the European Space Agency have successfully tested the first direct 5G satellite connection. These initiatives may be integrated into Iris2, the European equivalent of Starlink, which the European Union has budgeted at $10.4 billion.
Image | Starlink
Related | SpaceX Has Just Made the First Video Call With an iPhone Connected Directly to a Starlink Satellite
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