SpaceX has launched the first Starlink satellites, which can transmit cellular signals directly to smartphones. This should make it possible to have reception in remote places even without a satellite dish.
This week, the US space company SpaceX launched satellites into space for the first time that can transmit telephone signals to smartphones – without the need for a satellite dish or other additional devices. The satellites would therefore function like cell phone towers in space.
A Falcon 9 rocket carried the six Starlink satellites with the so-called “Direct to Cell” capability into space on Tuesday, SpaceX, the company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, announced yesterday. The idea behind it: Even in the most remote corners of the world – or the dead zones without reception – it should then be possible to make calls, write messages or surf the Internet, whether on land, at sea or in coastal waters.
SpaceX itself writes that the improved Starlink satellites have an advanced modem that eliminates dead spots.
cooperation with mobile phone providers
Several companies have already announced that they will use the Starlink satellites, including the Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile. The aim of the service is to avoid having to worry about reception and “carry around expensive satellite phones,” T-Mobile said at the launch.
The “Direct to Cell” service will initially only start with text messages. Only then should voice and data coverage follow. Mobile operators working with Starlink include T-Mobile in the US, Rogers in Canada, KDDI in Japan, Optus in Australia, One NZ in New Zealand, Entel in Peru and Salt in Switzerland.
The only European Starlink partner to date, Salt from Switzerland, announced that towards the end of the year, subscribers would be able to communicate via SMS and be connected almost everywhere.
Supplement, but not a replacement
Musk had already dampened the euphoria about the data speed of “Direct to Cell” somewhat on his messaging service For comparison: There are even smaller LTE tariffs with 21 to 26 Mbit/s. If you load a lot, higher bandwidths of 50 Mbit/s are more suitable.
The Swiss mobile communications company Salt also made it clear in its statement about the Starlink satellites: “Satellite technology is a complementary solution to the conventional mobile network and is not a replacement.”
So far minisatellite dishes necessary
It is already technically possible to have cell phone reception via space even in the most remote corners of the world. However, until now mini satellite dishes were needed as “amplifiers”. The small receiving devices on four legs, which can be used to obtain Internet from space, are available from Starlink for 50 euros per month.