Imagine you’re asleep in your RV, far away from the nearest cell tower. You don’t know it, but not far from you, a tornado has touched down and it’s headed your way. Suddenly, your cell phone blares out an emergency alert. But wait! There’s no cell tower in reach. What happened? Your phone got the alert from a satellite. Yep, Starlink promises to help all cell users in this kind of scenario. But only if Uncle Sam cooperates.
Starlink needs a favor from Uncle Sam
SpaceX, the Starlink satellite internet parent, says it wants permission to give T-Mobile users the ability to make calls through its satellites when they’re out of range of cell towers. The Starlink cellular proponents are raring to go. But they need permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch the new technology on satellites.
“Not so fast!” call out T-Mobile rivals, AT&T and Verizon. The two big cell companies say Starlink Cellular’s technology could make radio interference that could foul up their customers’ phone service. So the two asked the FCC to deny SpaceX the needed waiver that would give them the OK to operate their satellite-cellular service outside normal communications frequencies.
Starlink promises to help all cell users—if FCC gives it a back-scratch
The FCC is still in the decision-making zone. So late last week, SpaceX tried to sweeten the pot by telling the federal regulators that if it got what it wanted, Starlink promises to help all cell users. How so? The new satellite-cellular technology could send emergency alerts to ALL wireless users out of range of cell towers. Not just T-Mobile customers who’d signed up for the service, but all cellular users.
In its letter to the FCC, SpaceX told the agency their plan had “enthusiastic support and eager anticipation from T-Mobile subscribers, including First Responders.” The satellite company has already launched more than 130 “direct-to-cell” satellites in orbit. In tests, SpaceX has been able to send radio signals to unmodified Samsung and iPhone phones.
How valid are Verizon and AT&T’s claims that allowing SpaceX what it wants could really mess up other cell phones? That’s something the FCC and its tech geniuses will have to figure out.
It’s worth knowing that both of the T-Mobile rivals have plans for their own satellite-to-cellular communications systems, using SpaceX rival AST SpaceMobile. The latter wants to beta test its system, possibly before year’s-end.
RELATED
- Better Starlink for RVers – No need for residential subscription
- Starlink lower-cost family plan rolls out for some
- A great deal on a Starlink Kit could cost hundreds more
##RVT1172b
Of course, the rival cell providers have no hidden agenda… and, of course, neither does Starlink and T-Mobile. I hope the FCC has good psychologists as well as technical experts.
The FCC is just another government three letter organization of appointees. Another group to tell you what you can’t do.
The internet and phone companies have the FCC and politicians in their back Pocket
i Finally dropped t mobile and one of the reasons why was because I could not get through on a 911 call and I have no cell phone service at my address which is not really rural just on the state line. For years they promised a closer cell phone tower and finally last year I had a technician tell me there were no plans for a tower. My neighbors have the same problem with Verizon. The FCC needs to make these mega cellular companies fix their present problems. And as for trusting an Elon musk company forget it
The 2 astronauts on a NASA funded Boeing excursion for 8 days will inevitably become a Musk based rescue mission after 240 days in space. Yup, don’t trust that Musk guy. My guess is those 2 are thumbs up on Musk. I bet there family members will be happy when they get home too. 😂🤣😂🤣
Yup !
Defense lawyers are nothing more than a bunch of bald face liars and they are attempting to muddy up the water. My guess, if Musk is wise , he will include everyone in his plan.
In any case it’s a step forward. That system might have saved people who roamed out of coverage areas and were never rescued.
The only thing that I understand is that: “it is all over MY head”.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Interesting bit of gamesmanship by Starlink. I wonder how this goes? Thank you for the update, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
All seems part of Musk’s plan to have access to everyone’s cell phone. The government has no idea what he will have access to. No thank you
Of course they know what he’ll have access to as they already have it.
So does T-Mobile whose users pay to maintain a connection to that phone the minute it’s turned on.
By function and design, a cell phone is not a privacy device. By design, it’s about as private as a switchboard controlled party line my friend….