It happened: For the first time in the world, smartphones exchanged SMS via Starlink satellites

Recently it has become possible to organize the transfer of messages between ordinary smartphones using the Starlink Direct to Cell satellite system. RSmag reported how this was achieved.

First, SpaceX launched a small constellation of 6 Starlink satellites into orbit. They served as cell towers. On January 8, 2024, the system was tested, in which an SMS message was sent from an ordinary smartphone not equipped with a special chip or software to another equally ordinary phone. We used the network range of the mobile operator T-Mobile to transmit text data. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the speed of information transfer and the latency, if any.

Important

Unlike smartphones, satellites have improved significantly. Therefore, engineers equipped them with special phase grids similar to those in highly sensitive radio receivers. Sufficiently powerful transmitters were also integrated, allowing communication between satellites and smartphones. The connection was made using LTE.

According to the permission SpaceX received from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the company will be able to test Starlink mobile communication at 20 different points across the country. A total of 840 satellites will be used and will be launched in the near future. Commercialization of the service has not yet reached that point as there are fears that satellite communications for smartphones will cause significant radio interference that will interfere with the operations of other operators. However, SpaceX hopes that by 2025 they will be able to solve all the problems and offer the service to the international market.

We have previously written that internet rival Starlink has launched satellites into orbit. New satellite internet operator HughesNet offers plans with cheaper and faster transfer speeds than Starlink.