D2D (Direct to Device) - satcom to cellular

D2D (Direct to Device) - satcom to cellular

Space News article...

Text, voice, and data from what amounts to cell towers in orbit, usable by cellular devices. It would appear in your network settings.

Intended to eliminate black zones, and provide emergency services in  remote areas. 

FCC has given SpaceX permission to test, currently to 4G LTE, with 840 satellites going up in the next few months. This batch went up on Falcon 9, but Starship will be able to launch them in bulk - one of its primary uses. This will be  accomplished by ejecting them from a door like a PEZ dispenser. 

AST SpaceMobile and Lynk are also in the hunt, put on a smaller scale and not as far along.

About the Starlink deployment,

https://spacenews.com/spacex-deploys-direct-to-smartphone-satellites-in-first-launch-of-2024/

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SpaceX deploys direct-to-smartphone satellites in first launch of 2024

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SpaceX plans to start enabling texting from space this year in partnership with cellular operators, with voice and data connectivity coming in 2025, although the company still needs regulatory permission to provide the services commercially.

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AST SpaceMobile said Jan. 2 it is seeking to secure funds this month from “multiple parties” ahead of launching its first five commercial satellites early this year on a Falcon 9.

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Starship Starlink "PEZ dispenser"

British Telecom looking at Starlink D2D partnership. 

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bt-talks-elon-musk-starlink-155917007.html

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BT in talks with Elon Musk's Starlink for broadband offer

BT is in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink over a satellite phone and broadband service that could help tackle the plague of so-called rural not spots.

The telecoms giant is testing Starlink equipment at its Adastral Park research centre near Ipswich as it explores ways to deliver connections to hard-to-reach areas.

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