Elon Musk's SpaceX to deliver 4G and 5G mobile from space

Elon Musk has announced that his company’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based Starlink satellites will soon be able to connect with 4G and 5G-based mobile phones, a development which the company says will mean there will be “No more cell phone dead zones“.

SpaceX, Musk’s technology company, has partnered with T-Mobile to provide the “Coverage Above and Beyond” setup, which would provide around 2 to 4 Megabits per second connection across a given coverage area.

A statement from SpaceX said: “This satellite-to-cellular service will provide nearly complete coverage anywhere a customer can see the sky—meaning you can continue texting and eventually make a cell phone call even when you leave terrestrial coverage."

“We’ve designed our system so that no modifications are required to the cell phone everyone has in their pocket today, and no new firmware, software updates, or apps are needed. As a complementary technology to terrestrial networks, SpaceX can enable mobile network operators to connect more people, fulfil coverage requirements, and create new business opportunities.”

The ‘Coverage Above and Beyond‘ solution will initially offer “text coverage”, such as text messaging, including SMS, MMS, and “participating messaging apps“ in the continental US, Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and territorial waters and will start with a beta in select areas by the end of 2023.

After the initial launch, SpaceX and T-Mobile intend to add voice and data connectivity, which will be supported by the second-generation Starlink satellites, which feature a larger antenna. The satellites are expected to be sent into space aboard SpaceX’s Starship craft.

Both Starlink and T-Mobile plan to expand the ‘Coverage Above and Beyond’ solution globally and have issued an open invitation for collaboration with carriers around the world. T-Mobile has also offered reciprocal roaming to any provider who decides to work with them on the solution.