The T-Mobile license is the first collaboration between a satellite operator and wireless carrier to be approved by the FCC to provide supplemental cell coverage from space. “The Commission recognized that satellite-to-device connectivity can support critical public interest benefits,

The satellite-to-phone service T-Mobile and Starlink first announced back in 2022 has gotten a lot closer to deployment. As SpaceNews and Reuters report, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted the companies conditional approval to provide T-Mobile subscribers coverage using Starlink satellites in locations that can't be reached by the carrier's network.

The FCC has granted SpaceX permission to go forward with plans to offer a direct-to-phone version of its Starlink satellite internet service, with

The FCC approved T-Mobile and SpaceX's license to provide supplemental telecom coverage from space to eliminate dead zones.

Starlink users are already enjoying speeds of 250-350 Mbps, far exceeding typical fibre connections in some areas. The service is expected to deliver speeds surpassing 2Gbps shortly as next-generation satellites are deployed.

Elon Musk's SpaceX has announced that Starlink have now launched enough Direct to Cell (DtC) capable broadband satellites to be able to deliver "robust" glob

Monday's satellite launch means SpaceX has enough direct-to-cell satellites in orbit to offer robust coverage. But it still needs FCC clearance to operate them commercially.