On December 6, SpaceX filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It seeks approval to begin equipping some of its Starlink satellites with "direct-to-cellular" hardware. And regulatory consent is needed to link the Starlink service to T-Mobile, in order to connect smartphones to the satellite system. 

According to the FCC filing the effort to create a direct-to-cellular Earth-to-space system will allow Starlink "to provide voice, messaging, and basic web browsing at theoretical peak speeds of up to either 3.0 Mbps or 7.2 Mbps peak upload... and up to either 4.4 Mbps or 18.3Mbps on the downlink." 

SpaceX and T-Mobile connect smartphones 

This is the first step in opening up a partnership between the two communications giants. In late August, T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk released an announcement that the companies would connect their two data networks.

Currently, SpaceX has 3,500 first-generation Starlinks in-service. And that’s about 20% of what they need to offer "full and continuous" smartphone coverage via T-Mobile. 

Starlink will need to launch at least 10,000 satellites into low orbit space to offer full service worldwide. And to connect smartphones everywhere to the system.

Starlink wants to blanket the globe with a reliable high-speed Wi-Fi signal, that works for phones, inside vehicles, and even on planes. And the company aims to eventually create a 42,000-satellite constellation.

Starlink services growing 

Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX already has the approval to grow its space-based Starlink broadband constellation.  On December 1st the FCC approved SpaceX to launch 7,500 "Gen2" Starlink satellites in the next 8 years.

The first Starlink prototype satellites were launched into orbit in 2018.  For all practical purposes, the satellites are operational “flying routers.” 

To date, the Starlink service is only available in select regions. And it currently has an estimated half a million customers.  In September 2022, McMurdo Station in Antarctica became operational, and the satellite broadband service was turned on on seven continents.

This year Starlink was also activated in Africa, starting in Mozambique and Nigeria. It's on throughout Ukraine. And is rolling out in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

The coverage will grow larger as more satellites are launched into the constellation.

According to the Starlink website, "Starlink is ideally suited for areas of the globe where connectivity has typically been a challenge. Unbounded by traditional ground infrastructure, Starlink can deliver high-speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable or completely unavailable."