The FCC, the telecoms regulator in the United States, has just authorized Starlink to deploy its technology Direct To Cell on the network of T-Mobile, one of the country's mobile telephone operators. This partnership was announced in 2022 and if from a distance it looks a bit like what Apple offers with modern iPhones, there are some important differences.
In the case of Apple, communication with satellites depends on the smartphone: it must be explicitly compatible. In addition, the speeds are low, in particular because the Globalstar satellite constellation is limited by the number of satellites, around thirty. In the case of SpaceX's offer, the connection is made in 4G, with a new generation of satellites capable of transmitting in a classic frequency band. On paper, any 4G phone is therefore compatible with the offer.
In practice, SpaceX and T-Mobile hope to eventually achieve speeds of the order of 3G – a few megabits per second – a speed sufficient for a large part of the uses, apart from video. Currently, coverage remains average: SpaceX has not equipped all of its satellites with the necessary components, and they must be placed in a lower orbit to improve performance. Currently, there are a little more than 300 of the (almost) 7,000 around us. Commercial launch is expected in 2025, probably only with calls and possibly basic messaging functions.
Partnership between Starlink and T-Mobile: speeds worthy of 3G… via satellites
Several rumors indicate that European operators could also work with SpaceX in the future, without further details.
Starlink on trial: everything you need to know about this new kind of satellite connection
