Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

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SpaceX and T-Mobile's Starlink-Based Satellite Cell Coverage Moves One

Step Closer

Starlink, SpaceX's network of satellites satellites into orbit. T-Mobile said at the to accomplish the same task while Verizon
in low Earth orbit, has ambitious plans time that testing for the network would joined up with Amazon's Project Kuiper. Ver-
with T-Mobile to bring full cell service to begin shortly thereafter. The telecom com- izon also has satellites in orbit that are in
less-populated areas where customers pany originally partnered with SpaceX in or- active testing with its network. Chipmaker
have previously struggled to connect. der to cover dead zones in its coverage. In Qualcomm also attempted such a service,
SpaceX demonstrated this technology on some areas -- particularly in the rural parts but it ended its deal with Iridium in Novem-
Tuesday with a video call. In the demo, of the US -- putting in cell service is expen- ber 2023. So far, T-Mobile and SpaceX are
two SpaceX employees test the technolo- sive, difficult or both. With satellites, T-Mo- the only pair with an active demo that can
gy with a video call using the video-calling bile hopes to finish covering all the remain- be viewed online. Some phone users even
feature of X, formerly Twitter. It's the first ing half-million square miles of the nation have been seeing the option pop up on Pix-
such call that uses Starlink's Direct to Cell that few cell services can reach. T-Mobile el phones running the Android 15 beta. It
satellite service, a project that SpaceX has isn't the only one working on this problem. puts the two tech giants ahead in the race
been working with T-Mobile to build since AT&T has partnered with AST SpaceMobile to cover dead zones in the US.
2022. While no official launch date has
been announced for the service, SpaceX
said in a tweet that the company is "excit-
ed to go live with T-Mobile later this year."
Representatives for SpaceX and T-Mobile
didn't respond immediately to requests for
comment. The demo was run on unmodi-
fied smartphones. That means consumers
likely won't need specialized tools or a new
phone to use the service when it eventual-
ly rolls out. This fulfills T-Mobile's original
promise that "the vast majority of smart-
phones already on T-Mobile's network will
be compatible." For the time being, SpaceX
has been using T-Mobile's PCG G Block
bands to perform its testing as per the
company's FCC filings. In January, SpaceX
launched the first six phone-connecting

Starlink Goes Live in Indonesia, Targets Rural Health and Education

SpaceX’s LEO satellite operator Starlink clinic in Densapar. Musk also conducted up to date,” he told the AP. Starlink’s arrival
officially launched its service in Indonesia a speed test of the Starlink service with in Indonesia has been highly anticipated for
on Sunday, which among other things will health workers in remote regions. “This can some time, not least because its satellite
be used to bolster healthcare and education make it really a lifesaver for remote medical broadband service is seen as a fast ticket to
services in remote areas under a new clinics, and I think it could be a possibility connect underserved and unserved remote
agreement. According to media reports, for education as well,” Musk was quoted as communities across the archipelago.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was on hand for the saying by the Associated press. According Starlink officially applied for the relevant
launch ceremony in Bali along with various to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, licenses to operate in Indonesia in April
government ministers. At the ceremony, who also attended the launch, around 2024, and received official approval earlier
Musk signed an agreement between 2,700 of the countries over 10,000 clinics this month. In between, Starlink signed an
SpaceX and the Indonesian government to have no internet access. “The internet can MoU with the Indonesian Internet Service
use Starlink to enhance connectivity for the open up better access to health services Providers Association (APJII) to provide
healthcare and education sectors, although as communication between regions is said internet access in the underdeveloped,
no details were provided. The launch to be easier, so that reporting from health frontmost and outermost regions of the
ceremony took place at a community health service facilities can be done in real time or country.

83 MAY-JUNE 2024