Starlink receives commercial authorization from the US FCC to provide satellite coverage for smartphones
Very soon, SpaceX will be able to offer satellite connectivity for smartphones together with T-Mobile
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Elon Musk had promised us a long time ago Satellite Internet for mobilealthough we had not had any news about the tests started in 2023 together with T-Mobile by SpaceX. Today we know, however, thanks to our colleagues TechCrunch y Bloombergwhich indeed the next big leap for our smartphones It is probably satellite connectivity, since we already have confirmation that Starlink has its initial coverage network ready based on a constellation of satellites.
This is not the only progress, in any case, since it has also emerged in the last few hours that The North American certification company FCC has granted commercial authorization relevant to SpaceX, so that they can begin the deployment of this service that Starlink will offer with T-Mobile as a provideras we had mentioned before.
The idea is to eliminate the barriers of terrestrial base stations to provide mobile phones with global connectivitybeing able to communicate with Starlink satellites with high speeds and acceptable latencies without skyrocketing energy consumption, especially in emergency applications where coverage may be an issue when it comes to rescue in the mountains or remote places.
In fact, the FCC itself states in its documentation that they have found more positive aspects than negative when analyzing the service and its implications:
We find that SpaceX and T-Mobile’s SCS operations will produce broad benefits, including increased access to emergency services in areas where consumers would not otherwise have the ability to access a ground-based network with which to call. call 911 or send text messages.
Of course, this commercial authorization It does not mean that tomorrow we will have Starlink on mobile phonessince many problems still have to be resolved. What it does mean is a push so that SpaceX can move forward with its developmentwith tests already carried out in the ‘Real World’ during Hurricanes Helene and Milton to allow affected areas better access to emergency services.
Regarding the issues to be resolved, of course it will be necessary to devices compatible with this technology in the hardware section, also adding the need that the service is operated as an extension of a land mobile networkthis due to the limitations and regulations of space transmissions. In addition, interference with ground services will have to be avoided and resolve how effective synchronization will be achieved with a base station that is hundreds of kilometers outside the planet.
US regulators call the service supplemental coverage from spaceSCS for its acronymallowing SpaceX to get ahead of its competition with 7,500 satellites approved at altitudes from 340, 345, 350 and 360 kilometers high. Any deployment below 400 kilometers, however, must be reviewed and approved by NASAsince it is near the lower limit of the orbit of the International Space Station.
We already know that yes, the global connection of our mobile phones via satellite is on the near horizon, so now all that remains is wait for SpaceX and T-Mobile to complete their testing and development… Before they teach us (and scare us) with prices!
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