(Credit: SpaceX)
UPDATE 12/5: On Wednesday, SpaceX launched another batch of 13 cellular Starlink satellites, which actually marks the completion of the first stage of the cellular Starlink network.
"The first Starlink satellite direct to cell phone constellation is now complete," company CEO Elon Musk tweeted. "This will enable unmodified cellphones to have Internet connectivity in remote areas."
SpaceX executive Ben Longmier had previously indicated the cellular constellation was completed last week. But in a new tweet, he clarified: "This launch completes 24 planes of 13 sats per plane at a 53 deg inclination for the Direct to Cell constellation." The previous cellular Starlink launch, group 12-1, sent the satellites at a 43-degree inclination.
UPDATE 11/26: The FCC has cleared SpaceX's cellular Starlink system for commercial operations. The company plans on kicking off a beta service soon, according to a SpaceX executive, but the program will arrive first for employees.
Original story:
After dozens of rocket launches, SpaceX now has enough satellites in Earth’s orbit to offer commercial services for its cellular Starlink system.
The company today launched another batch of 12 "direct to cell" Starlink satellites into space, bringing the total to over 320, and effectively completing the first stage of the satellite network.
Monday’s launch also signals that SpaceX has enough direct-to-cell satellites circling the globe to offer robust coverage without any gaps. Since January, it's been launching cellular Starlink satellites to use them as orbiting cell towers that can beam data to phones on the ground.
"Starlink's new system enables internet connectivity for your mobile phone with no extra equipment or special app,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Sunday. "It just works."
The company already activated the satellites last month to offer free emergency SMS texting for hurricane victims in the US. Although the technology only supported texting on a "best-effort" basis, it still connected to 27,000+ phones in hurricane-ravaged areas, resulting in over 250,000 texts sent during the first days of service. Previous experimental tests have also shown the satellites can beam a download rate up to 17Mbps.
SpaceX is partnering with T-Mobile to offer cellular satellite technology to consumers. But before it can do so, the company needs approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to commercially operate the cellular Starlink constellation. SpaceX also needs the FCC’s clearance to operate the technology beyond the normal radio emission rules; otherwise, it won’t be able to support real-time voice and video calling, the company says.
In the meantime, T-Mobile’s CEO indicated that his company plans to launch a beta program for the cellular Starlink service "late this year or early into next year." Pricing has not been announced.
SpaceX plans to first support text messaging through the cellular satellites before powering voice and data sometime next year. Although the cellular Starlink network spans over 320 satellites today, Musk envisions it having thousands, similar to the regular Starlink network.