Starlink: “Direct to Cell” satellite link would work well with iPhones and Android smartphones

“Direct to Cell” is the name of the satellite link service that SpaceX plans to launch later this year. Currently in testing, it would work better than expected on Android smartphonesbut also on iPhone, according to a letter sent by the company to American regulators at the FCC.

Powered by the Starlink network’s fleet of satellites, “Direct to Cell” is due to arrive later this year in a handful of markets, and it may be more successful than expected. At least that’s what we learn fromAndroid Authority, which reports that SpaceX (behind the project) sent a letter to the FCC in which the good results obtained by the service during its initial test phase are mentioned.

Objectives met, or even exceeded?

We thus learn that Direct to Cell would have succeeded in “ achieve or even exceed test objectives “. The latter were led on “ several models of Samsung, Apple and Google devices, unmodified, using the PCS G Block spectrum ”, we read, and mainly consisted of sending messages by SMS, but also through the messaging integrated into X.com (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp.

According to SpaceX, the service encountered no problems sending and receiving messages, regardless of the environment tested. The company particularly mentions tests conducted in the American city of Redmond (Washington State), but also in Mountain View (California) and Kansas City (Missouri) in “ urban and rural areas, indoors and outdoors, with clear skies and under vegetation “.

Clarification is also made by SpaceX that the smartphones tested were able to communicate via Direct to Cell without “ harmful interference from adjacent band devices.”

“Direct to Cell” coming soon, but not right away in France

As recalled Android Authority, SpaceX has partnered with the American operator T-Mobile to launch Direct to Cell to its subscribers across the Atlantic. When launched, the service must provide coverage in the United States, but also in Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and within American territorial waters.

Direct to Cell should also come to fruition with other operators across the globe, such as Rogers (in Canada), Entel (in Chile and Peru) Optus (in Australia), One NZ (in New Zealand), Salt (in Switzerland) and KDDI (in Japan).

At this stage, however, no French operator is present on the list of SpaceX partners.

Source : Android Authority / FCC