The Federal Competition Commission has granted Starlink, according to a report by PCMag. The commission has given Starlink 'experimental special temporary authorisation' to beam satellite connectivity to unmodified T-Mobile phones on the ground. SpaceX plans to equip its satellites with new modules and develop smaller, mobile-compatible devices to bridge the gap with smartphones. T-Mobile is the sole licensee of the PCS G Block in the United States, according to Starlink. Starlink has been providing internet connectivity in remote areas for three years.
Elon Musk
's
Starlink satellite internet
may soon be beaming directly onto your mobile devices, giving the company a major fillip. According to a report by PCMag, the Federal Competition Commission has granted Starlink, “experimental special temporary authorisation” to beam satellite connectivity to unmodified T-Mobile phones on the ground. As per the report,
SpaceX
has been given 180 days — till June 14 — to conduct the pilot program.
SpaceX in its application had said that “This experimental authority is necessary as the Commission continues to process SpaceX’s application to enable supplemental coverage from space (“SCS”) for consumers on a permanent basis.” Furthermore, the pilot program will allow SpaceX to connect its direct-to-cellular antennas to cellular test devices using the 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands.
Currently,
Starlink
primarily targets home and business users through fixed satellite dishes. However, bringing broadband directly to smartphones opens up a whole new market and unlocks a plethora of possibilities. Starlink relies on larger user terminals, like dishes, to connect to the network. SpaceX plans to equip its satellites with new modules and develop smaller, mobile-compatible devices to bridge the gap with smartphones. These devices would likely function as intermediaries, receiving the satellite signal and then relaying it to your phone.
T-Mobile is sole licensee of the PCS G Block in the United States, according to Starlink.“The two parties executed a spectrum manager lease pursuant to which T-Mobile granted SpaceX the right to use the PCS G Block as described in SpaceX’s underlying application and the instant request for experimental authority.
“SpaceX will use the PCS G Block spectrum licensed to T-Mobile for these experiments with T-Mobile’s consent,” said the company.
It has been three years since Starlink started providing internet connectivity in remote areas. “Starlink has grown rapidly since then, delivering high-speed internet to locations all around the world where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable,” said the company in a post on X.
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