The FCC approved SpaceX to replace its aging Starlink satellites with advanced second-gen models. The number of Australians using FWA for home broadband nearly doubled. Hiya’s report found nearly 20 billion spam calls globally. The UK CMA has paused its app store investigations into Apple and Google.
The UK Ministry of Defence has successfully launched its own satellite, ‘Tyche’, revolutionizing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This pivotal event marks the UK’s leap forward in space-based defense. As part of a broader initiative, Tyche will bolster military operations, disaster response, and environmental monitoring, reinforcing national security and technological innovation.
Barcelona-based Sateliot has launched four LEO nanosatellites via SpaceX to expand its satellite IoT services. This move aims to connect eight million devices and secure €30 million in funding. Utilizing a 5G core through AWS, Sateliot’s NB-IoT constellation targets 100% global coverage and offers cost-saving IoT solutions.
SpaceX has hit a roadblock in its ambitious plan to connect consumer devices directly to its next-generation Starlink satellites, as the FCC rejected its request to utilize the 1.6 GHz, 2 GHz, and 2.4 GHz bands. The regulatory agency has halted SpaceX’s bid citing their current policy on limiting new entrants to these bands.
The telecommunications sector leaps forward as KDDI and SpaceX bring a game-changing satellite-to-cellular service, intertwining mobile and satellite technologies. Leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink low-earth orbit satellites and KDDI’s national wireless spectrum, the partnership aims to expand urban connectivity into rural areas. While the innovation promises swift deployment and extensive coverage, it also poses challenges, including the need for costly, satellite-enabled handsets.
BT’s recent talks with SpaceX to leverage Starlink’s LEO satellite fleet for remote connectivity in the UK has sparked curiosity, especially given BT’s current partnership with OneWeb, Starlink’s competition. It’s speculated that Starlink’s innovative direct-to-device capabilities, which promise unblemished global coverage without a need for a terminal, could be the allure.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, T-Mobile US and SpaceX are gearing up for the field testing of Starlink satellites, heralding a significant stride in eliminating mobile coverage dead zones. While the exact date for the commencement of field testing remains undisclosed, T-Mobile is optimistic about its imminent initiation, stating that the low-Earth orbit deployment of satellites sets the stage for the forthcoming trials.
SpaceX’s Starlink project faced a setback this week as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to maintain its decision to deny funding from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). The initial award in late 2020 aimed to extend broadband coverage to nearly 643,000 premises in 35 states.
SpaceX’s Starlink is paving the way for direct-to-mobile services, thanks to a progressive partnership with T-Mobile. Going beyond termianls, the ambitious endeavor could allow unmodified smartphones to directly connect with satellites. Beginning with text messaging in 2024, comprehensive voice and data services are slated to follow in 2025. However, AT&T and the Rural Wireless Association express concerns about possible interference with commercial networks, prompting fierce debate over the fine lines of regulatory procedures.
Intriguingly, SpaceX’s Starlink offers an innovative Direct to Cell feature allowing existing LTE phones to function even in remote locations – a potential boon for those often out of terrestrial coverage. With a rollout plan targeting texts by 2024, and full voice, data, and IoT compatibility by 2025, Starlink seems poised for a breakthrough. While the proposition seems formidable, concerns around possible limitations of Starlink’s proprietary technology remind us advantages of relying on industry best practices. Without disclosed pricing details, we can only anticipate how this venture will fare against other satellite connectivity contenders.
