Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, has recently hinted that his internet company, Starlink, will soon be launching its direct-to-mobile internet service in the countries where it currently operates.
This announcement came shortly after SpaceX, Musk’s satellite company, successfully launched 42 new satellites, including 26 equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities.
According to Ben Longmier, one of SpaceX’s engineers, Saturday’s satellite launch brought the total number of satellites deployed under the company’s Direct-to-Cell program to 168.
These satellites are set to play a crucial role in the upcoming rollout of Starlink’s mobile internet service, which aims to provide users with seamless connectivity directly to their mobile phones.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Musk shared that the company plans to collaborate with network carriers in each country where Starlink operates to bring this new service to the market.
The approach involves initially partnering with a single carrier in each country, with the long-term goal of expanding the service to include all carriers in those regions. “We are starting off working with one carrier in each country, but ultimately hope to serve all carriers,” Musk stated.
Starlink’s direct-to-mobile service has already made its debut in the United States, where it is being offered exclusively with T-Mobile for the first year. Musk mentioned that other U.S. carriers will be added to the service in due course, signaling a broader expansion of this technology.
Starlink’s journey in Africa began in January 2023 when Nigeria became the first African nation to launch its satellite internet service. Since then, the company has expanded its footprint on the continent, most recently launching in Botswana. This brings the total number of African countries where Starlink is operational to 15, while the service is now available in 105 countries worldwide.
The deployment of these new satellites marks a significant milestone for Starlink as it seeks to deliver global access to communication services. The company is promising that its direct-to-cell capabilities will enable users to access texting, calling, and internet browsing services from virtually anywhere on land, lakes, or coastal waters.
In a statement on its website, Starlink highlighted the user-friendly nature of the new service, which is compatible with existing LTE phones.
“Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice, and data,” the company explained.
This development is poised to revolutionize global communication, particularly in remote and underserved areas where traditional network coverage is limited or non-existent.
With Starlink’s direct-to-mobile service, users will soon have the ability to stay connected no matter where they are, signaling a new era of ubiquitous global connectivity.