FCC OKs T-Mobile and Starlink’s Satellite Partnership for Widespread Internet Access
The Federal Communications Commission has granted a license for T-Mobile and Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink division to provide supplemental internet access to remote areas through their collaboration on space-based broadband services.
The partnership was launched in 2022, and in January this year, the first group of Starlink satellites reached low-Earth orbit alongside a Falcon 9 rocket. These satellites are capable of connecting directly to cellular networks to extend coverage through a process known as Direct-to-Cell technology, effectively ending “dead zones” that exist due to challenging terrain or land restrictions.
In its statement regarding the FCC’s approval, said, “The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver a single network future that brings an end to mobile dead zones.” FCC Chair
Over 500,000 square miles of the country’s area remain unreachable from conventional tower coverage due to topographical limitations, ground-use constraints, and such other reasons. The latest approval sets the stage to further supplement existing networks of both providers to provide stable coverage even in remote segments. The license is given with certain parameters to meet standards ensuring no interference arises.
There are more company submissions seeking regulatory approval undergoing scrutiny, besides this inaugural one receiving official nod yesterday. SpaceX, and allowed satellite functionality on cellphs recently.