SpaceX and T-Mobile partner for direct-to-cellphone satellite service -

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I’m sure this will come up, so I might as well be the first to post and it.

To answer the easy questions:

Yes, this is really cool–and totally expected from my perspective.

No, this will have no impact on Othernet. We will continue to operate the service and sell radios for as long as there is interest and as long as it is commercially viable. My goal is still to get the receiver cost down and expand coverage where ever the numbers make sense.

Yes, it is possible that SpaceX will provide a broadcast service some day. When that happens, well…

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I read they will be using Globalstar on L-band…not Starlink.

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Apple is using GlobalStar, which I think is S-band.
The Starlink (as well as AST SpaceMobile and Lynk) model is to reuse terrestrial LTE bands.

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:slight_smile:

Apple is taking most of Globalstar’s network for its new satellite feature

  • Allocate 85% of its current and future network capacity to support the Services

– **The initial questionnaire and follow-up messages are then relayed to centers staffed by **
“Apple‑trained” “specialists” who can call for help on the user’s behalf.

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Wow, a serious competition to StarLink V2 satellites when up in the sky

#Lynk Global looks particularly interesting

  • from 500 km (310 mi) altitude orbits
    – fifth, Shannon, was launched on 29 June 2021
    – sixth, Lynk Tower 1, was launched on 06 April 2022

Lynk launches ‘first commercial-ready cell-tower-in-space’
https://telecoms.com/514594/lynk-launches-first-commercial-ready-cell-tower-in-space/

  • Lynk Towers 2, 3, and 4 are under construction and will be launched later in the year.

How Lynk Proved Direct Two-way Satellite-to-Mobile-Phone Connectivity

#AST SpaceMobile (not sure if operating as well)

What is missing is information on how they operate under different weather conditions :frowning:

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It’s not competitive at all. None of the space-to-phone services will provide broadband internet to tens of millions of users. The Space-LTE systems are meant to provide a small bit of connectivity for times when the subscriber is out of normal terrestrial coverage.