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Once it is operational, T-Mobile customers will be able to receive satellite service in areas that are geographically isolated.
This week, SpaceX successfully finished the production of its first Starlink direct-to-cell satellite constellation. Using a Falcon 9 rocket, the business successfully launched twenty satellites on Wednesday. Thirteen of the satellites are capable of communicating directly with mobile phones without the need for additional equipment.Following the FCC's approval of an agreement between SpaceX and T-Mobile last week, the construction of the constellation has been completed. In 2022, the firms made the announcement of their alliance, highlighting their plans for a future in which mobile devices will be able to connect to the rest of the world even when they are in the middle of the ocean. According to SpaceX, the satellite constellation functions "like a cellphone tower in space, allowing network integration similar to that of a standard roaming partner."
The direct-to-cell satellites will "immediately connect over laser backhaul to the Starlink constellation, eliminate dead zones, and provide peace of mind when customers need it the most," according to a post that SpaceX made on X on Thursday. Beginning in the beginning of this year, the company was able to send and receive its first text messages using the network of T-Mobile.
In the low-earth-orbit constellation, there are 6,799 satellites that are now active, and according to Space.com, approximately 330 of them are able to communicate directly with mobile phones. According to statements made by Elon Musk on Thursday, unmodified mobile phones would have a bandwidth of approximately 10 Mbps per beam. He stated that in the future, constellations will be able to achieve a significantly higher throughput.
In the event that Starlink Direct to Cell becomes available to customers, it is likely that the companies would provide additional information to them. At the moment, the following year is the target date. On the other hand, the constellation is not exclusively limited to T-Mobile Network. It was reported by Android Central that Ben Longmier, the senior director of SpaceX, stated shortly after the satellites were deployed that they are "open for business for any teleco in the world."
