Starlink: The days of no mobile signal are a thing of the past
Signal anywhere in the world
Starlink and T-Mobile have announced a new technology partnership that will effectively end the era of no mobile signal, even in the most remote locations. At an event held at SpaceX’s Starbase, Elon Musk announced from the stage that the second-generation Starlink satellites will connect directly to T-Mobile’s 5G phones, likening the technology to a cell tower in the sky.
In practical terms, this means that in the near future, if the user has the sky above them, their mobile phone will always have a signal – even in the middle of the ocean. In fact, even existing phones will be able to connect to the new service which enters beta from next year.
The service will launch with real-time sending and receiving of messages, including SMS and some messaging apps. Calling and data connectivity will be added later. Elon Musk clarified that the speed will be limited to 2-4 Mbits which works very well for calls and messages, but is not enough bandwidth if many users are in the same area.
The second generation Starlink satellites will have a very large and modern antenna, which will receive a signal from the user’s mobile phone. As for how much this service will cost, T-Mobile has promised that it will be free on the company’s most popular plans. For the cheapest plans that will not include it, there will be a charge for the service which will be much, much less than what satellite services usually charge.
Musk emphasized that the new service will save lives since it will allow calls to emergency services in mountains, deserts and at sea. He also said that Tesla vehicles will incorporate this technology.
