T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert recently estimated that Starlink Cellular beta (aka Starlink Direct-to-Cell) could launch between late 2024 and early 2025.
“We think we’re on track for a beta program of the direct-satellite-to-cellular program that we announced a while back—it could start this year or early into next year,” Sievert told Jim Cramer.
SpaceX’s Starlink Directo-to-Cell website states that text services will be available starting in 2024. It estimates that Voice & Data and IoT will be available by 2025.
Before Sievert’s interview with Cramer, Starlink Cellular was expected to launch with T-Mobile in the fall of 2024. Elon Musk has shared that Starlink Cellular will be exclusive to T-Mobile in its first year. SpaceX will consider working with other networks in the United States as Starlink Direct-to-Cell develops. It hopes to also partner with at least one network in different countries.
For now, however, SpaceX still has a few hurdles to overcome before considering expansion. According to Seivert, SpaceX has 192 cellular satellites in Earth’s orbit. Starlink Direct-to-Cell reportedly needs around 300 cellular satellites to offer services in the United States. Only time will tell if SpaceX can reach its preferred number of cellular satellites before the end of the year to launch Starlink Direct-to-Cell.
In additiona, SpaceX must wait for clearance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before offering Starlink Cellular to customers in the United States. The aerospace company is also waiting for the FCC to approve its request to operate Starlink Cellular above normal radio frequency limits to boost real-time video and voice calls.
Its request may not delay Starlink Direct-to-Cell’s beta launch. SpaceX may launch text capabilities with Starlink Cellular beta once it receives clearance from the FCC. Then, it could decided to roll out other capabilities over time.
Watch T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert‘s interview below.
If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via X @Writer_01001101.
