SpaceX is set to commence testing its Starlink satellite-to-cellular service later this year, as the company looks to expand its satellite Internet business. SpaceX’s VP of Starlink enterprise sales, Jonathan Hofeller, confirmed the news during a panel at the Satellite Conference and Exhibition 2023. Although Hofeller didn’t specifically mention which telco SpaceX was working with, the timeline matches Musk’s original vision for the T-Mobile partnership.
Elon Musk and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert announced the “Coverage Above and Beyond” initiative last year, aiming to bring Starlink satellite coverage to compatible T-Mobile devices. In August 2022, Musk promised that Starlink V2 would launch in 2023 and “transmit direct to mobile phones, eliminating dead zones worldwide.”
T-Mobile stated at the time that the service would provide “near complete coverage” of most of the United States, particularly in areas where cellular coverage is difficult to find, such as National Parks, mountain ranges, deserts, and other remote locations.
The panel at the Satellite Conference and Exhibition 2023, which discussed satellite cellular service, expressed optimism about the technology’s future. Charles Miller, CEO of Lynk Global, said satellite cellular service could be the “biggest category in satellite.” In contrast, Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, sees cellular satellite service as the beginning of a more significant trend. He envisions satellite technology connecting everything, everywhere, from computers to vehicles and more.
This new development could be significant for SpaceX’s growing satellite Internet business. While it is still in the testing phase, the success of the Starlink satellite-to-cellular service could provide a compelling alternative to traditional cellular coverage and eliminate dead zones across the globe.
