T-Mobile, SpaceX to End Cellphone Dead Zones
On Thurs., US wireless carrier T-Mobile announced that it will partner with Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink satellite service to provide cell reception to connect the company's mobile phone users directly with satellites in orbit.
Facts
- On Thurs., US wireless carrier T-Mobile announced that it will partner with Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink satellite service to provide cell reception to connect the company's mobile phone users directly with satellites in orbit.
- In a joint press release, the companies said that the partnership will "provide near complete coverage in most places in the US - even in many of the most remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell signals."
- Starlink satellites will connect with T-Mobile's mid-band spectrum to create a new network from which most users' phones are already compatible for connection. The new service will begin with text messages in a beta phase by the end of 2023.
- Musk said he would like other carriers to partner with SpaceX to provide the satellite service globally and that the new service is aimed at "eliminating dead zones worldwide."
- The satellites will allow users in a cell zone to share 2-4 megabits per second of bandwidth, the equivalent of up to 2k voice calls and hundreds of thousands of text messages. In the event of a cell tower outage users will still be connected and able to use their devices.
- T-Mobile reportedly intends to offer the new service for free with their "most popular plans," however, there have been no official announcements about pricing.
Sources: New York Post, Business Insider, One America, Washington Post, and Daily Caller.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by T-Mobile. With over half a million square miles of the US untouched by cell service this partnership marks a turning point. This new connection won't be reliant on old technology like cell towers or underground cable networks and may pave the way to future partnerships that could see worldwide connection.
- Narrative B, as provided by CNN. While this is exciting news, it's too early to start celebrating. Starlink itself is still a new service and SpaceX has yet to demonstrate that it can deliver on its promise. It remains to be seen how far this partnership will reach.
