The US telecommunications regulator FCC has given SpaceX and T-Mobile permission to supplement existing mobile networks in the United States with connections directly via satellites. The Federal Communications Commission announced this on Tuesday And said SpaceX is now also allowed to operate satellites at 340, 345, 350 and 360 kilometers for its Starlink internet service. To avoid any disruption to the International Space Station (ISS), billionaire Elon Musk’s space company will have to coordinate with US space agency NASA.
Advertisement
Schedule not kept
SpaceX and T-Mobile US introduced the collaboration more than two years ago; Starlink is supposed to step in for customers when there are no cell phone towers within range. It should be possible to make contact with the outside world even in dead places with almost all current smartphones. According to the FCC, this has several advantages, including access to emergency numbers where this was not previously possible. SpaceX and T-Mobile actually wanted to start beta testing in 2023, but that didn’t work out. SpaceX sent the first Starlink satellite into space in January for this purpose. The company may not provide the service itself, but only supplement the provider’s network.
With “Direct to Sell”, SpaceX can significantly expand the target group for its own satellite Internet. Starlink currently requires an antenna to establish a connection to satellites which costs more than 400 euros. For example, other devices are then connected via WLAN. This technology is primarily for people who live away from broadband connections and need a reliable, fast internet connection on a permanent basis. There is no information on planned prices yet; The data rate should initially be only 2 to 4 Mbit/s. Smartphones will also need a clear line of sight to the sky to connect to satellites.
(mho)
