Elon Musk’s Starlink successfully launched its first direct-to-cell satellite. It was announced on Wednesday that Elon Musk, leading SpaceX’s Starlink mission, achieved success with the launch of their satellite on board Falcon 9 spacecraft.
With HT gearing up for 2024, Space X confirmed that all 21 Starlink satellites are functioning well and in position as of 10:20 AM this morning. This marks the first-ever direct-to-cell satellite launched by Elon Musk’s company.
The purpose of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite is to provide coverage for internet and mobile networks “wherever you see the sky,” indicating coverage for all areas and locations. To understand more about the company’s direct-to-cell service, let’s delve into what Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service entails.
What is Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Satellite?
Starlink launched its first Direct-to-Cell satellite on January 3, 2024, and it will start operating in the next few days. The text function will be active in 2024, while voice, data, and IoT services will be active from 2025. It will work with direct LTE phones for cellular technology, functioning like a cell phone tower in space. This means that if you have an active signal from the satellite, the service will be available everywhere without the need for external connections or hardware.
As mentioned on Starlink’s official website, advanced EnodeB modems are onboard satellites with direct cell capacity, working like a cell phone tower in space, ensuring network integration is similar to a standard roaming partner.
Connectivity will also be available in remote areas where Starlink is launched. Users employing Starlink Direct-to-Cell will have cell phone service worldwide in all partner countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, and Chile. The primary goal of Direct-to-Cell is to provide high-speed connectivity in remote and rural areas where other networks face challenges. The hope is for internet connection and cell service to be faster and more reliable.
Also Read
BYD Surpasses Tesla with 3 Million New Energy Vehicles in 2023
