"The Direct to Cell service will work with regular LTE

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The official website of the satellite operator Starlink of SpaceX has a section dedicated to the future Direct to Cell service. It will allow sending text and voice messages, as well as files from regular smartphones with 4G LTE support, via satellites.

The company announced plans to launch a satellite messaging service back in 2022. At that time, it was assumed that the service would start working in 2023 with the support belgium whatsapp resource of the T-Mobile mobile operator. However, the launch of Direct to Cell is now planned for 2024 for text messages, and in 2025 the service should have support for voice messaging. In 2025, they also plan to connect IoT devices to the service.

. According to PCMag, Direct to Cell will be similar to AST SpaceMobile's satellite communications. The latter's service, which is planned to be launched next year, will provide the ability to transmit a 4G LTE signal from satellites to regular smartphones that do not have any hardware or software modifications.

smartphones. No hardware or software modifications to devices or installation of special applications will be required to transmit text, voice and data," the page for the future SpaceX satellite service reports.

It is noted that before launching Direct to Cell, the company will need to obtain permission from the US Federal Communications Commission. SpaceX has already approached the regulator to allocate a certain range of radio frequencies for it. The company's initiative to create a satellite cellular service has faced criticism from the operator Dish Network, as well as Apple's partner, Globalstar.

To support the Direct to Cell service, SpaceX will equip some of the Starlink satellites with an "advanced eNodeB modem." As a result, the satellites will turn into "space base stations similar to those used for roaming." SpaceX also wants to attract partners among mobile operators to support the Direct to Cell service.