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SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

wsj.com

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Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#21

Post by nootropicat »

mlindner wrote: post #7

Key notes: * Everywhere in the US and US territories including ocean waters you will get T-Mobile service through Starlink satellites, no additional hardware needed (for the person owning the cell phone anyway) * Beta service starting end of 2023 * Included for free with most T-Mobile plans other than the cheapest plans * More limited features may be added earlier, i.e. texting or emergency calling * Total available…

What the... is that what's possible with 5G? Amazing, and even days ago I was thinking of satellite smartphone internet as something scifi because of (clearly incorrect!) complicated antenna requirements.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#23

Post by extheat »

mlindner wrote: post #7

Key notes: * Everywhere in the US and US territories including ocean waters you will get T-Mobile service through Starlink satellites, no additional hardware needed (for the person owning the cell phone anyway) * Beta service starting end of 2023 * Included for free with most T-Mobile plans other than the cheapest plans * More limited features may be added earlier, i.e. texting or emergency calling * Total available…

> Included for free with most T-Mobile plans other than the cheapest plans

This is big. Only concerning part seems to be the large antenna required on the satellites, which would probably incur some extra scrutiny by regulators, but IMO the benefits of something like this far exceed the downsides.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#24

Post by wmf »

samstave wrote: post #9

space based global coverage scares the shit out of me, especially when its 100% commercial interests. Thought you could be untrackable off grid? Think again. Think you can be in an RF free zone, anywhere on planet? Nope. There is no "off-grid" when your grid is literally LAT+LONG 100% data access sounds awesome until you realize that its no longer "surveillance state" and its "surveillance planet"

If you want to be really disconnected you need to take responsibility and at least enable airplane mode or use a faraday pouch.

I noticed that Starlink does obey the RF-free area in West Virginia.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#25

Post by boredpudding »

samstave wrote: post #9

space based global coverage scares the shit out of me, especially when its 100% commercial interests. Thought you could be untrackable off grid? Think again. Think you can be in an RF free zone, anywhere on planet? Nope. There is no "off-grid" when your grid is literally LAT+LONG 100% data access sounds awesome until you realize that its no longer "surveillance state" and its "surveillance planet"

Oh man, wait till you hear about GPS.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#26

Post by cma »

anonymousiam wrote: post #5

I watched the announcement. Knowing Musk, I'll believe it when I see it, but it sounds promising. Apparently the G2 Starlink satellites will be equipped with large antennas to support cellular users on the existing spectrum. Video was live-streamed, and still available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzli-Ww26Qs

Garmin inReach but works on any phone and a bit more bandwidth so not restricted to emergency messages. Also free with most T-Mobile plans (inReach is currently expensive, but may drop in response if that isn't a capacity only issue).

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#27

Post by jacquesm »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #19
verdverm wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This needs no new towers, direct cell / sat comms with current phones

Won't that require a bunch of phone hardware for sat comms?

Not if they use the regular frequencies. It'll require a pretty sensitive receiver though, no point in steering the beam if you don't know where the recipient is.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#28

Post by trothamel »

ceeplusplus wrote: post #12
andrewmunsell wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's the latter of what you mentioned-- direct cell to SpaceX satellites

I thought existing Starlink needed a phased array antenna to get decent signal strength. How the hell is a cell phone radio going to reach a satellite?

Really big antennas, and really slow signals. The satellite is expected to downlink at 2-4 megabit, and uplink will likely be slower still.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#29

Post by samstave »

boredpudding wrote: post #25
samstave wrote: post #9

space based global coverage scares the shit out of me, especially when its 100% commercial interests. Thought you could be untrackable off grid? Think again. Think you can be in an RF free zone, anywhere on planet? Nope. There is no "off-grid" when your grid is literally LAT+LONG 100% data access sounds awesome until you realize that its no longer "surveillance state" and its "surveillance planet"

Oh man, wait till you hear about GPS.

Wait until you hear the difference between UPD and TCP.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#30

Post by cma »

btown wrote: post #10

This is actually fascinating. T-Mobile doesn’t need a fiber or even cable buildout to a remote location, just power and the local clearances for a tower, they plop a Starlink antenna on the top and bam. Congestion will be a challenge but it will be way better than the current status quo.

That isn't what this is, but they did mention maybe partnering for backhaul in the future (likely with similar tech and frequencies to the home internet, not the frequencies in this announcement).
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