Launch of Starlink's satellite cell service in the US scheduled for 2024: Complete information
Starlink’s DTC (Direct-To-Cell) service, which is expected to commence rollout next year in 2024, is Elon Musk-led. It announced on its promotional webpage that satellite cellular service shall be limited at the start exclusively to send and receive short messages (SMS). The service will in the future ease access to texting and calling as well as web browsing over different surfaces. These included agricultural produce such as foodstuffs and animals. Satellite services is another means that would facilitate LTE connectivity for IoT devices.
For this project, Starlink had tied up its partnership with T-Mobile when it was first revealed during the ‘Coverage and Above and Beyond’ event that occurred in August. T-Mobile shall dedicate a certain frequency out of the 5G spectrum to enable the Second Generation Starlink’s use. On their side, Starlink will grant access to the satellite network by T-Mobile-compatible smartphones. With such an infrastructure, the cellular service provider would be able to “provide nearly complete national coverage of the [United States].
Starlink V2 launch: What we know so far
During an August event, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the Starlink V2 shall be launched in 2023. According to this billionaire, it was a satellite-based system that would be operational in certain mobile phones and in Tesla cars.
With this step, Musk said this service would eliminate cellular dead zones all over the World. He spoke optimistically of their cooperation with T-Mobile.
Initially, this timeline would take effect according to the agenda of the Satellite Conference and Exhibition 2023. Jonathan Hofeller, VP of Starlink’s Enterprise Sales at SpaceX, indicated that tests may start by 2023 instead of fully commercial operations. Starlink’s flock has now 4,265 satellites that it cannot use for its innovative network. The company therefore is required to institute measures that will see a fresh set of microsatellites deployed into space each and every year going forward. Each subsequent satellite launch is anticipated to bring about more voice and data capabilities.
Apple plans to introduce its own messaging-only service, thus it will compete against Direct-to-Cell by the company. In addition, Apple’s emergency-alert technology is built on the company’s in-house satellite emergency SOS function, present in iOS 14.
Moreover, its Snapdragon Satellite operates through the Iridium constellation enabling text messages to be sent from any Android device via satellite.
In his comments during the March event, Lynk Global CEO Charles Miller said that fierce competition is expected in this market. Satellite cellular service will be predominant in the satellite segment.