T-Mobile and SpaceX launch satellites to extend direct cell phone coverage

Aiming to bring connectivity to all parts of the United States, telecommunications company T-Mobile, along with aerospace manufacturing company SpaceX, on Wednesday launched the first set of Starlink satellites that will provide service directly to consumers’ cell phones.

This new satellite service will benefit more than half a million square miles of the United States, including areas of the ocean not covered by terrestrial networks due to terrain limitations, land use restrictions, among other geographic challenges, he said. Written statements.

The new service aims to provide “an additional layer of connectivity” in places where it is most needed. In its initial phase it will serve for text messaging functions And, in the coming years, they expect to include voice and data coverage, the telecommunications company reported.

It is currently unknown if this service will be available for local customers. El Nuevo Día requested a reaction from the company, but has yet to receive a response.

“Our mission is to be the world’s best in connecting customers to their world, and today we take a new step forward in keeping our customers connected even in the most remote locations, giving them greater peace of mind when they need it. That most”, points out Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile.

Four international mobile service providers joined the alliance between T-Mobile and SpaceX to expand mobile services. turn around. Among the new suppliers that were part of the launch were KDDI (Japan), Optus (Australia), OneNZ (New Zealand) and Rogers (Canada), and more will join soon, as the call for companies is still open.

“Today’s launch (Wednesday) marks a milestone for this revolutionary partnership with SpaceX and our international partners around the world, as we work to make the Dead Zone a thing of the past.” Kazet communicated.

The launch will bring connectivity to customers of the “un-carrier” program (simplified plan structure for new customers) virtually across the country, including the so-called dead zones, where signals cannot reach.

The company announced that field tests on the new Direct cell phone service will begin soon..

For her part, Sara Spengello, SpaceX’s senior director of satellite engineering, indicated that “the launch of these direct-to-cellular service satellites is an incredible milestone for SpaceX to showcase our technology.”

“Our goal is to quickly scale the direct-to-sale service with our carrier partners around the world and launch the messaging service for T-Mobile customers,” he added.

The launch was announced last year with the telecommunications company’s initiative, “Coverage beyond expectations.” The satellites were placed into low Earth orbit on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Hawthorne, California.