Tag: direct-to-cell

Apple joins T-Mobile’s project to use Starlink satellites as orbiting cell towers

12:52 pm

In releasing a new update on its Iphone operating system, Apple quietly revealed that it has joined T-Mobile’s partnership with SpaceX to use a subconstellation of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cellphone capability, thus acting as orbiting cell towers to fill in gaps in T-Mobile’s service.

Originally spotted by Bloomberg, it seems that Apple has secretly worked with SpaceX and T-Mobile U.S. to provide an alternative satellite service. This is quite a surprise, as T-Mobile had previously specified Starlink as an option for Samsung phones, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Meanwhile, Apple has an in-house Satellite connection service due to a partnership with Globalstar Inc.

However, the Bloomberg report states that a select number of iPhone users have been able to enable the Starlink beta through T-Mobile. While we don’t know which models will be compatible as of yet, T-Mobile told Bloomberg that the full release will support the vast majority of iPhones.

The system is being tested right now, but still requires FCC license approval.

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AST SpaceMobile raises $400 million in capital

9:33 am

The direct-to-cell satellite company AST SpaceMobile has raised another $400 million in investment capital, giving it a total of $900 million in cash on hand for building its full constellation of its much larger second generation Bluebird satellites.

The operator now has more than $900 million of cash on its balance sheet to shift production of its Block 2 BlueBird satellites into a higher gear this year, after deploying five smaller Block 1 spacecraft to low Earth orbit (LEO) in September.

At about 223 square meters when fully deployed, a Block 2 satellite is significantly larger than Block 1, which spans 64 square meters, enabling 10 times the capacity to support up to 120 megabits per second (Mbps) peak data rates.

It has plans to launch 45 of these larger satellites in the next two years.

At the moment AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX are the only two companies offering direct-to-cell service. One component of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation has this capability, and the company has a deal with T-Mobile to use it to fill in gaps in its cell tower ground network. AST in turn has a deal with AT&T.

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SpaceX: Only five more launches needed to complete Starlink direct-to-cell constellation

9:11 am

According to a tweet posted by SpaceX shortly after yesterday’s first launch from Vandenberg, the company needs only five more launches to complete its first constellation of Starlink direct-to-cell satellites.

More information here. At the moment the company has launched 260 of this version of its Starlink satellites. Since each launch places 13 more satellites in orbit, that means the first full iteration of the constellation will contain 325 satellites.

The satellites will allow cell phone users on the ground to use the constellations like a cell tower, thus providing service in areas where ground cell tower service does not exist. At the moment T-Mobile has a deal with SpaceX, so its subscribers will be able to use this service as soon as it is operational.

When when this be achieved? This story once again illustrates the speed in which SpaceX operates. The first launch of direct-to-cell Starlink satellites occurred on January 2, 2024, and in the last ten months the company has completed 23 launches to get the constellation where it is presently. At that pace the entire consellation might be complete before the end of this year.

The competition for this service is certainly fierce. The other satellite company offering this service, AST Mobile, has launched the first five satellites in its constellation, and has deals with AT&T and Verizon. Its design is different, and will only require 110 satellites to complete the constellation. At the moment five are about to become operational. It hopes to start regular launches next year to complete the constellation.

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