FCC approves Elon Musk’s Starlink for cellphone service, with some limits

Nov 27

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has cleared the way for a groundbreaking partnership involving Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite-based internet provider, but it has some limits. Starlink is approved to provide T-Mobile customers cellphone service, bringing access to dead zones and other remote areas.

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This is the first time the FCC has given a license for a satellite operator collaborating with a wireless carrier. However, the Verge reported restrictions in the FCC filing like the agency not yet allowing Starlink to increase satellite radio emission power for real-time voice and video calls.

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SpaceX said in October that it would start testing basic texting capabilities and support for voice and data isn’t expected to arrive until next year.

AT&T and Verizon have already raised concerns that allowing SpaceX to bypass current power limits could interfere with their networks.

This week SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center to join the thousands already there. Of those launched, 12 satellites have direct-to-cell capabilities.

Reuters reported there are pending applications from other companies, but for right now, the FCC has only granted this approval to T-Mobile.

Tags: cellphones, Elon Musk, FCC, Internet, SpaceX, Starlink

[Lauren Taylor]

THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS CLEARING THE WAY FOR A GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING ELON MUSK’S SPACE-X SATELLITE BASED INTERNET PROVIDER – BUT IT HAS SOME LIMITS.

STARLINK IS NOW APPROVED TO PROVIDE T-MOBILE CUSTOMERS CELL PHONE SERVICE … BRINGING ACCESS TO DEAD ZONES AND OTHER REMOTE AREAS.

THE IS THE FIRST TIME THE F-C–C HAS GIVEN A LICENSE FOR A SATELLITE OPERATOR COLLABORATING WITH A WIRELESS CARRIER.

HOWEVER, THE VERGE REPORTS RESTRICTIONS IN THE F-C-C FILING LIKE THE AGENCY NOT YET ALLOWING STARLINK TO INCREASE SATELLITE RADIO EMISSION POWER FOR REAL-TIME VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS.

SPACE-X SAID LAST MONTH IT WOULD START TESTING BASIC TEXTING CAPABILITIES AND SUPPORT FOR VOICE AND DATA ISN’T EXPECTED TO ARRIVE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

A-T AND T AND VERIZON ARE RAISING CONCERNS THAT ALLOWING SPACE-X TO BYPASS CURRENT POWER LIMITS COULD INTERFERE WITH THEIR NETWORKS.

THIS WEEK SPACE -X LAUNCHED 24 STARLINK SATELLITES FROM NASA’S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO JOIN THE THOUSANDS ALREADY THERE.

3,2,1 ignition go falcon, go starlink

12 SATELLITES FROM THE RECENT MISSION HAVE DIRECT-TO-CELL CAPABILITIES.

REUTERS REPORTS THERE ARE PENDING APPLICATIONS FROM OTHER COMPANIES, BUT FOR NOW THE F-C-C HAS ONLY GRANTED APPROVAL TO T-MOBILE.

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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