SpaceX is preparing to launch beta testing of Starlink for global mobile communications

SpaceX will test Starlink Direct-to-Cell to provide communications in the most remote places on Earth.

SpaceX is preparing to launch beta testing of its new Starlink Direct-to-Cell (DTC) technology, which will allow mobile phones to connect to cellular services from anywhere on Earth. The move is part of an expansion of the Starlink satellite network, which already provides high-speed Internet access to more than 4.6 million people in 118 countries around the world, reports NSF.

Starlink satellites, located in low-Earth orbit (LEO), provide data speeds 65 times faster than traditional geostationary satellites. As part of the beta testing, which will begin on January 27, 2025, SpaceX and mobile operator partners will test the new technology to improve coverage on a global scale.

The goal of this testing — evaluate the effectiveness of DTC satellites, in particular, in providing communications in extreme conditions, such as emergency situations, where traditional cellular networks may not be available. The beta testing will last until July 2025, after which SpaceX will consider expanding the technology for wider use.

Starlink is already being actively used to improve communications on space missions, in particular for the Starship spacecraft, which allows for live broadcasts from space. If tested successfully, the DTC system could become another milestone in the development of space technology and provide uninterrupted mobile communications in any corner of the planet.