Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell satellite service would enter its beta testing phase on January 27.
Musk confirmed the news in a reply to a post shared by Mario Nawfal, founder of IBC Group, on X, saying, “Starlink direct from satellite to cell phone Internet connection starts beta test in 3 days.”
The Direct-to-Cell service will enable mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, bypassing traditional cellular infrastructure.
This breakthrough could revolutionize communication, allowing users to send texts, make calls, and browse the internet from any location, even in remote areas without access to regular cell towers.
Nawfal described the service as “cell towers in space,” with the potential to eliminate dead zones and significantly improve mobile communication.
He also emphasized that users would not need new phones or additional hardware, as the service would work with existing devices.
The beta phase is anticipated to be a major milestone for SpaceX, marking the start of Starlink’s expansion into mobile connectivity.
If successful, the service could greatly benefit people in areas with poor or no cellular coverage, particularly during emergencies when traditional networks fail.
With this new service, Starlink aims to solve the persistent issue of limited connectivity in rural and hard-to-reach regions.
The introduction of next-generation Starlink satellites, expected to offer speeds exceeding 2Gbps, further promises to revolutionize global telecommunications.
SpaceX has leveraged its expertise in manufacturing and launching the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink satellites with Direct-to-Cell capability at scale.
