Space X “direct-to-cell” service to start in the U.S. this fall, but with what wireless carrier?
In a May 30th filing with the FCC, SpaceX wrote that it “looks forward to launching commercial direct-to-cellular service [1.] in the United States this fall.” That will presumably be only for text messages, because the company has stated that ONLY text will available in 2024. Voice and data won’t be operational until 2025.
Importantly, SpaceX did not identify the telco who would provide Direct-to Cell satellite service this fall.. Mike Dano of LightReading has suggested it might be T-Mobile US (more below), but there is nothing on the company’s news website to confirm that.
Note 1. “Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice and data,” according to the Starlink’s website. “Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities enable ubiquitous access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters. Direct to Cell will also connect IoT devices with common LTE standards.”
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SpaceX disclosed its commercial direct-to-cell launch plans in a filing with the FCC that urged the Commission to make changes to its initial supplemental coverage from space (SCS) ruling. SpaceX argued the FCC should create SCS rules that are specific to each band of spectrum used in such offerings
In its most recent FCC filing, SpaceX said that “supplemental coverage from space (“SCS”) will enable ubiquitous mobile coverage for consumers and first responders and will set a strong example for other countries to follow.”
Furthermore, SpaceX said the “FCC should reconsider a single number in the SCS Order—namely, the one-size-fits-all aggregate out-of-band power flux-density (“PFD”) limit of -120 dBW/m2 /MHz that it adopted in the new Section 25.202(k) for all supplemental coverage operations regardless of frequency band.
If the Commission decides to retain an aggregate limit, adopting band-specific limits that efficiently and transparently achieve the accepted ITU interference protection threshold for terrestrial networks of -6 dB interference-to-noise ratio (“I/N”) would better achieve the Commission’s goals of ensuring better service, broader coverage, and more choices for consumers.
By making this simple adjustment to the SCS Order, the Commission can potentially bring an order of magnitude better service to consumers who use supplemental coverage from space in higher frequencies, without causing any risk of harmful interference to terrestrial services in adjacent bands,” SpaceX added.
SOURCE: OFFICIAL SPACE X PHOTOS ON FLICKR, CC2.0
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SpaceX established a phone-to-satellite agreement with T-Mobile in 2022. That agreement called for the satellite launch vendor to add T-Mobile’s spectrum into its Starlink satellites. T-Mobile officials have suggested SpaceX’s satellite service might be included in its more expensive service plans for no extra charge, or through an extra fee on its other plans.
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Sidebar: SpaceX LEO Satellites in Orbit
SpaceX currently operates a constellation of more than 6,000 Starlink satellites. That web of satellites helps to keep Starlink’s services consistent for users on the ground. Each Starlink LEO satellite travels extremely fast such that it goes around the world every 90 minutes.
SpaceX has stated that it plans to have around 800 satellites capable of direct-to-cell connections in orbit within a few months.
According to one source, SpaceX has so far launched more than three dozen satellites that support those “direct-to-cell“ connections.
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References:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/105311484428351/1
https://www.starlink.com/business/direct-to-cell
https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/spacex-says-t-mobile-s-direct-to-cell-service-launching-commercially-this-fall
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Telstra partners with Starlink for home phonetechblog.comsoc.org/…/spacex-launches-first-set-of-starlink-satellites-with-direct-to-cell-capabilities service and LEO satellite broadband services
SpaceX launches first set of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities
Starlink’s Direct to Cell service for existing LTE phones “wherever you can see the sky”
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Starlink Direct to Cell service (via Entel) is coming to Chile and Peru be end of 2024
“With over 100 Direct to Cell satellites now launched, and 100s more planned to be launched this year, excited to provide ubiquitous connectivity to our customers starting with @TMobile in the US this year!” Senior Director, Satellite Engineering, co-lead Direct to Cell, at SpaceX Sara Spangelo posted on Twitter on Wednesday.
SpaceX announced a partnership with T-Mobile US almost two years ago, their shared goal being to provide ubiquitous coverage to mobile users in the US and further afield. The pair sent their first text messages in January, using the first few Starlink direct-to-cell satellites that were put into orbit just after the new year and the mobile operator’s spectrum.
At the time, the companies indicated they would launch the service before the end of 2024, but did not provide a more specific timeframe than that. We still don’t have an actual launch date, but Spangelo’s comment above indicates that it could be imminent; the year is more than half over already, after all.
Initially, the direct-to-cell service will be restricted to text messaging, but the firms are working on adding in voice and data, possibly from next year. While T-Mobile has been a little vague on the details, Starlink itself said it would have the capability to offer voice, data and IoT services in 2025.
T-Mobile US is effectively serving as Starlink’s reference partner, and it will be the first to launch services, but the satellite operator has brokered deals with other global telcos too. It has partnership arrangments in place with Rogers in Canada, Optus in Australia, One New Zealand, Japan’s KDDI, Salt in Switzerland, and Entel in Chile and Peru. It has been touting for more business from the operator community, but has made no new partnership announcements lately.
The LEO market – and specifically direct-to-cell services – is hotting up. Globe in the Philippines recently announced it has extended its partnership with Lynk on a direct-to-cell service, or Sat2Phone, to use Lynk’s preferred branding. The companies plan to launch a live customer pilot programme later this year.
On a related, note, Amazon’s Project Kuiper has just got the go ahead to begin testing in France from regulator Arcep, L’Informé reported on Tuesday.
https://www.telecoms.com/satellite/starlink-ready-for-t-mobile-us-launch-with-100-direct-to-cell-satellites
According to SpaceX, the company’s “direct-to-cell” service with T-Mobile is launching commercially in the US this fall. SpaceX announced in 2022 that it would build satellites that could connect to T-Mobile’s customers via the operator’s spectrum holdings.
SpaceX has so far launched more than 100 “direct-to-cell” satellites in support of that effort. That’s a small fraction of SpaceX’s constellation of around 6,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, but the company has been working to launch more “direct-to-cell” satellites on an almost weekly basis.
T-Mobile, though, has not discussed the contours of its planned satellite offering. Will it be intended only for emergencies? Will it be available to all of T-Mobile’s customers? How much will it cost?
https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/apple-could-eclipse-wireless-operators-satellite-plans
AT&T, Verizon challenge SpaceX, T-Mobile’s direct-to-cell service
Verizon and AT&T have expressed concern that the direct-to-cell service could negatively impact their own mobile broadband networks, reported The Verge. SpaceX plans to launch a direct-to-cell service with T-Mobile commercially in the US this fall
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/16/24221677/att-verizon-fcc-complaint-tmobile-spacex-starlink-satellite-service
The FCC announced approved Starlink and T-Mobile direct-to-cell service in a lengthy filing in which it dismissed some of the objections from Starlink’s detractors. One of the conditions is that Starlink must coordinate its plans with NASA to make sure they do not interfere with the International Space Station (ISS), ISS visiting vehicles, and launch windows for NASA missions.
“We defer consideration of SpaceX’s request for a waiver of the aggregate out-of-band power flux-density (PFD) limit of -120 dBW/m2/MHz on SCS operations,” the FCC said. The FCC also said it will defer SpaceX’s petition to launch additional Gen2 Starlink satellites beyond the 7,500 limit.
That’s a key statement. It means it is pushing a decision on Starlink’s request for looser power emission rules further into the future. As we understand it, that’s something the satellite company will need in order to be able to move from direct-to-cell text messaging to voice and data.
https://www.telecoms.com/satellite/fcc-green-lights-starlink-and-t-mobile-direct-to-cell-service
“The @FCC approving the @Starlink and @TMobile Direct to Cell service in the US is a huge and critical step towards enabling ubiquitous high quality text, data, emergency, and eventually voice connectivity in the US and internationally,” Sara Spangelo, Senior Director, Satellite Engineering, co-lead Direct to Cell, at SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, posted on X (Twitter).