SpaceX Plans Direct-to-Cell Starlink Mobile Service by 2027
SpaceX will launch a direct-to-cell Starlink Mobile service by late 2027 to compete for customers from major U.S. wireless carriers.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. plans to launch a direct-to-cell Starlink Mobile service by the end of 2027. The network intends to eliminate cellular dead zones and support voice and video calls via applications such as Signal and WhatsApp, specifically during natural disasters.
President and COO Gwynne Shotwell stated the service will utilize 65 MHz of EchoStar spectrum and a tenfold increase in satellite numbers to provide capabilities she described as "100 times better" than current standards. SpaceX will begin flying the required satellites in 2027 to build out this infrastructure.
Shotwell indicated that the company aims to acquire a significant portion of the customer base from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. She noted that these three primary U.S. carriers generate approximately $600 billion annually and expressed confidence that Starlink's superior service would attract their users.
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