Internet giant Starlink and big cell service provider T-Mobile have promised cell phone users could reach out from just about anywhere. If out of network range, you can bounce your call through an earth-orbiting satellite. And to start the whole game, the companies promised you could start texting this fall. But the Starlink/T-Mobile plan for space-texting appears to have hit a snag.
“It could start late this year or early into next year”
A story carried by pcmag.com says T-Mobile isn’t so sure that “texting with the stars” will materialize this fall. Think about sometime next year. The cellular company’s CEO Mike Sievert was quoted on the site this way: “We think we’re on track for a beta program of the direct-satellite-to-cellular program that we announced a while back—it could start late this year or early into next year.”
Theories on why Starlink/T-Mobile plan delayed
The T-Mobile bigwig didn’t say what was behind the plan delay, but pcmag.com has its own theories on the matter. We recently wrote that Starlink had promised it would help ALL cell users in need. Stuck out in a no-coverage area, Starlink promised cellular users of all carriers that they could get emergency notices through their satellite network, IF… If the Federal Communications Commission would grant the big space satellite company allowance to use some new technology. As we reported, T-Mobile competitors weren’t keen on the plan, suggesting the new technology could mess up their customers’ cell service on earth.
As pcmag.com noted, SpaceX and its Starlink constellation might be needing more time to make its plea to the FCC come true. That hasn’t happened yet, so it’s one potential reason for the Starlink/T-Mobile standstill.
The other possibility, opines pcmag.com, is that SpaceX just doesn’t have the orbiting hardware capacity right now. Starlink would need 325 “direct to cell” satellites to start the T-Mobile talk-through-a-satellite gig. But as of mid-month, there were only 175 of the 325 needed satellites in orbit, with 13 more just launched. With that meager number of orbiting platforms, a fall startup of the SpaceX/T-Mobile plan is highly unlikely.
If you’re a T-Mobile cell customer, looking to stay in touch from the far reaches of the planet, best not hold your breath.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Thank you for the update! Have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
If anyone is holding their breath for satellite capability they can get a Garmin (and other brands) satellite tracker/communicator now. Not only do they keep track of your whereabouts and plot it on a map so you can be found, but many allow short texts to and from the devices. Great safety equipment, especially for people who travel alone to the middle of nowhere.
That’s me, out there where it’s peaceful and quiet….Not a bunch of $$$$$$$$. tho..
I hope my rig “Lucy” and I live long enough for the prices to go down, rather than up, to enjoy Starlinks….