SpaceX has signed a deal with EchoStar to acquire global Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum licenses and 50 MHz of exclusive S-band spectrum in the United States.
Through this agreement, which was announced on Monday, SpaceX will be able to develop and deploy its next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, which will offer broadband service to cell phones worldwide.
SpaceX’s deployment of Direct to Cell Starlink satellites
SpaceX started deploying Direct to Cell Starlink satellites in January 2024 to eradicate mobile dead zones. At that time, terrestrial service had not yet reached 90 per cent of the Earth and more than 20 per cent of the United States’ land area.
The Starlink team was texting on the ground with unmodified cell phones just days after launching the first Direct to Cell satellites in 2024.
“By spring, we were demonstrating video calling capabilities. A year and a half later, with more than 600 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites in orbit, the first-generation Direct to Cell constellation was successfully deployed and operational across five continents. Today, Starlink Direct to Cell has become the largest 4G coverage provider on planet Earth, connecting over six million users and counting,” SpaceX stated.
Starlink laser mesh connects the Direct to Cell constellation to the larger constellation
The Starlink laser mesh allows coverage anywhere worldwide by connecting the Direct to Cell constellation to the larger Starlink constellation, which consists of over 8,000 satellites.
Direct to Cell satellites fly lower than any other constellation, operating 360 kilometres above the Earth’s surface to maximise the connection between the satellite and cell phone. Designing, building, launching, and running cell towers in space, as well as developing the system’s eNodeB payload, phased array antennas, and core network—which allows network integration akin to that of a typical roaming partner—were all necessary to bring the constellation to its current state with its distinctive regenerative architecture.
SpaceX stated, “The service works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky – no changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required.”
Starlink’s partnership with top developers to enhance satellite network services
The Starlink team has been collaborating with top device manufacturers and application developers to improve the services offered over the satellite network. Starlink Direct to Cell network customers can now access various apps, basic and multimedia messaging.
These apps include navigation and outdoor necessities like Google Maps, AllTrails, and AccuWeather, as well as social media and messaging platforms like X and WhatsApp. Starlink Direct to Cell makes Internet of Things (IoT) connections possible in remote locations.
These capabilities, which have been developed in collaboration with mobile network operators such as T-Mobile in the United States, Optus and Telstra in Australia, Rogers in Canada, One New Zealand in New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, Salt in Switzerland, Entel in Chile and Peru, and Kyivstar in Ukraine (as well as several other unannounced partnerships), will enable the connection of millions of people worldwide in areas that have never had cellular connectivity before, including during emergencies when terrestrial systems are not operational.
SpaceX adds, “While we have made progress to help end mobile dead zones, our work is just beginning. More than 50 percent of the world’s land mass remains uncovered by terrestrial services. To that end, as we develop and deploy the next generation Direct to Cell constellation, we remain committed to working with mobile network operators globally to continue delivering ubiquitous coverage to as many customers as possible.”
Advantages of Starlink Direct to Cell constellation
Through the agreement, SpaceX will acquire EchoStar’s global MSS spectrum licenses and its 50 MHz S-band spectrum in the US (known as AWS-4 and PCS-H). Exclusive access to this spectrum and the application of 5G protocols optimised for satellite connectivity will make a step change in Starlink Direct to Cell’s performance possible.
The next-generation service from Starlink Direct to Cell will provide unmatched performance to regular, unmodified cell phones and Internet of Things devices.
It will use new, cutting-edge satellite technologies, exclusive spectrum, and Starship’s unparalleled payload capacity to low-Earth orbit in a single launch. This will help to bridge coverage gaps and eventually eradicate mobile dead zones globally.