Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
T-Mobile is looking to SpaceX's satellites in the skies to help flesh out its network coverage. On Thursday, the two companies announced that they will be working together to "bring cell phone connectivity everywhere," including offering "complete coverage in most places in the US."
The partnership aims to use SpaceX's constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to beam down connectivity that T-Mobile users can tap into. While SpaceX already offers home internet service around the globe through its Starlink program, with this program T-Mobile users should be able to connect to the SpaceX satellites through a "new network, broadcast from Starlink's satellites using T-Mobile's midband spectrum nationwide."
Although the company hasn't yet offered specifics on where the network will appear, T-Mobile says it should deliver "nearly complete coverage almost anywhere a customer can see the sky," with the companies envisioning this service as a replacement for using satellite phones in remote areas like a national park or in the mountains.
The carrier will start offering service through SpaceX in a beta that will take place in "select areas by the end of next year" as SpaceX launches its Starlink V2 satellites. Once operational, the network should cover the continental US as well as Hawaii, "parts" of Alaska, Puerto Rico and "territorial waters."
The beta will initially be limited just to text messaging (via SMS, MMS and "participating messaging apps") though T-Mobile and SpaceX are open to adding voice and data support in the future (albeit with no timeline given beyond "the coming years").
[...] Because the new network is broadcasting over T-Mobile's midband spectrum, the wireless carrier said that the "vast majority of smartphones" already on its network will be compatible with the new service and that users won't necessarily need to buy a new phone to tap into the signal. The cellular network will be exclusive to T-Mobile customers and will exist alongside SpaceX's Starlink broadband program on future satellites that SpaceX launches.
[...] As for pricing, Sievert said the company plans to include it on the carrier's "most popular plans," though older or cheaper plans may need to pay a monthly fee for the feature.
(Score: 1, Spam) by Beneductis on Sunday August 28 2022, @11:32AM (1 child)
Sure they are. Would expect nothing less.
By the way, Hello, Soylentils! My name is Beneductis, which means "well lead" or "Good ducts", possibly "Hot Ducks". Glad to join you all.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2022, @11:21AM
No, Beneductis is a verballhornung of Beneductus which means: Ben e-ductus or Ben whose pipe is E (or electronic).
(Score: 5, Informative) by Snotnose on Sunday August 28 2022, @01:25PM (3 children)
I worked on Globalstar in the 90s. First off, no way will the antenna currently in your phone reach a bird. The G* phone antenna was bigger than today's phones are. Second, talking to birds sucks up a huge amount of battery power.
So the phones will need bigger antennas and batteries. Even with that your data rate is always going to suck.
Fun fact about SMS. When the base station contacts the phone with either "I have something for you", or a "do you have anything for me?" the message only takes a few bits. It's more of a "knock knock". The packet size is 256 bits, so they decided to let people put messages into the unused bits.
Of course I'm against DEI. Donald, Eric, and Ivanka.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 28 2022, @02:27PM
It sounds like they use a specific frequency that Starlink doesn't currently use to provide a small amount of connectivity to phones. 2-4 Mbps TOTAL per cell zone. Enough for texting and calling. How well the phone can communicate to the satellite, I can't say, but it is not one-way.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 28 2022, @06:02PM
And then charge you for the privilege of using those bits. I suppose the packets would have been lighter if they weren't stuffed or something.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday August 29 2022, @02:58PM
If all you could do is use SMS from any point on the surface of the Earth -- that would have some real value. Especially when life is at risk.
The server will be down for replacement of vacuum tubes, belts, worn parts and lubrication of gears and bearings.
(Score: 2) by progo on Monday August 29 2022, @04:09PM
Wait. So your phone that you already have can talk to low-orbiting satellites, if it uses the right EM band? What's the power usage going to be like?
How do the physics work out, not using an external properly shaped antenna?
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Monday August 29 2022, @04:23PM
Even if this requires a new phone or drains batteries aggressively, it could help in many applications. It would be even better if it wasn't geolimited to the USA, which almost definitely is due to licensing. Some potential applications:
- Backcountry communication (this specifically is what I'm interested in)
- Emergency situation. Katrina and 9/11 demonstrated cell networks can fail, however both of those events are over a decade ago and I believe the ground infrastructure is much more robust
- Ocean communications, such as cargo ships
- I'm curious how secure this would be for military/sensitive operators. Cell phones pinging towers have gotten commanders killed in Ukraine, and USA solders with fitness trackers have revealed secret bases
- Defeating censorship, think great firewall of China or governments shutting down cell towers during the Arab Spring
For backcountry communications, they would be competing with services like SPOT (https://www.rei.com/product/172306/spot-x-with-bluetooth). For me it isn't even about the price, but avoiding another gadget and another battery that weighs more grams in my backpack.