January 11, 2024 – In a recent announcement, SpaceX has officially declared the successful utilization of its Starlink satellites for SMS transmission. According to the company, this breakthrough was achieved through collaboration with T-Mobile, paving the way for the planned rollout of their direct-to-phone satellite services within the next year.
SpaceX intends to commence its D2D (Device-to-Device) text services this year and anticipates expanding its offerings to include voice, data, and IoT services by 2025. One of the key advantages of this new service is its compatibility with existing mobile phones. As per the information provided on SpaceX’s official website, users won’t need to alter their hardware, firmware, or install any special applications to enjoy seamless access to text, voice, and data services.
This approach marks a distinct difference from technologies offered by other players in the market, such as Huawei, iPhone, and Tianyi Bodun, as it eliminates the need for users to purchase new satellite-compatible phones. SpaceX envisions that this service will enable SMS transmission starting in 2024, followed by voice calls, web browsing, and IoT device connectivity in 2025.
