Elon Musk’s Starlink Launches 1st-Ever Cell Service Satellites

[Hamartia Antidote]

Airtel Kenya seeks regulatory approval for Starlink D2C service - SatellitePro ME

Airtel Kenya has successfully completed a pilot of the technology and is now awaiting regulatory approval to move ahead with its commercial rollout.

satelliteprome.com

Airtel Kenya seeks regulatory approval for Starlink D2C service​

Airtel Kenya has successfully completed a pilot of the technology and is now awaiting regulatory approval to move ahead with its commercial rollout.


Airtel Kenya is seeking regulatory approval to commercially launch a Starlink-powered Direct-to-Cell (D2C) service that would allow compatible smartphones to remain connected in areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.

The proposed service has already undergone a successful pilot in Kenya, and Airtel is now awaiting clearance from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) before making the service available commercially. If approved, Airtel Kenya would become the country’s first mobile operator to offer direct satellite-to-phone connectivity.

Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe said the company had completed a successful pilot and would be ready to offer the service to Kenyan customers once regulatory approval is secured. The service is designed to automatically connect users to the SpaceX satellite network when they move outside Airtel’s terrestrial coverage, while their phones continue to display Airtel as the network.

Unlike conventional satellite communications, the Direct-to-Cell service is designed to work with compatible 4G and 5G smartphones without requiring a satellite dish, dedicated handset or additional equipment. Airtel has also said customers will not need to change their SIM cards or pay an additional charge for accessing the satellite connection.

The technology is intended to address coverage gaps in remote and sparsely populated areas where deploying additional terrestrial towers can be difficult or economically challenging. By linking ordinary mobile phones directly to low-Earth-orbit satellites, the service could extend connectivity to locations where traditional cellular infrastructure is unavailable.

The regulatory process, however, remains a key step before launch. The Communications Authority of Kenya confirmed earlier this year that Airtel Networks Kenya had submitted a formal application for approval and that the application was under review. The regulator has been examining whether satellite transmissions could interfere with existing terrestrial mobile networks.

The issue is particularly important because Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology uses spectrum associated with existing terrestrial mobile networks. Kenya’s regulatory review therefore includes consideration of spectrum sharing and the potential impact of satellite signals on 3G, 4G and 5G services. A technical audit has also been reported as part of the assessment.

The Kenyan initiative is part of a wider Airtel Africa partnership with SpaceX announced in December 2025. Under the agreement, Airtel Africa plans to introduce Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity across all 14 of its markets, which collectively serve more than 173 million customers. The initial service was planned to launch in 2026 with text messaging and data for selected applications, while the partnership also includes Starlink’s next-generation broadband Direct-to-Cell technology.

Airtel Africa and SpaceX said the next-generation system is expected to deliver substantially higher data speeds to compatible smartphones, with the agreement citing improvements of up to 20 times. The rollout across Airtel Africa’s markets remains subject to individual national regulatory approvals.

Kenya became an important early test market for the partnership. In March, Airtel Africa and SpaceX announced successful testing of data and messaging services in areas without terrestrial connectivity. Compatible 4G smartphones were able to connect to Starlink satellites and support applications including WhatsApp messaging and calling, maps, Facebook Messenger and transactions through the MyAirtel app.

The companies said the Kenyan testing would provide insights for expanding the service across Airtel Africa’s wider footprint. Future phases are expected to introduce broader voice and data capabilities as Starlink’s next-generation mobile satellite technology becomes available.

The proposed service also reflects a broader shift in the telecommunications industry, with satellite networks increasingly being used to complement rather than replace terrestrial infrastructure. For operators across Africa, direct-to-cell connectivity offers a potential way to address rural coverage gaps without the cost and logistical challenges associated with building and maintaining additional towers in hard-to-reach locations.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Will have to look for a communications map of Kenya to see where coverage is lacking. I had somewhat decent service along the Tanzanian border while visiting the Masai Mara.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Airtel Launches Starlink Mobile in DRC, Marking an African First - Telecom Review Africa

Airtel has commercially launched Starlink Mobile in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the first market in Africa where the satellite-to-phone service is available to Airtel customers. Airtel DRC’s Managing Director, Thierry Diasnoma, said: The commercial launch of Starlink Mobile is an...

www.telecomreviewafrica.com

Airtel Launches Starlink Mobile in DRC, Marking an African First​

Airtel has commercially launched Starlink Mobile in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the first market in Africa where the satellite-to-phone service is available to Airtel customers.

Airtel DRC’s Managing Director, Thierry Diasnoma, said:

The commercial launch of Starlink Mobile is an important step in extending essential connectivity across the DRC. Our country’s size and geography mean that many people live, work, and travel beyond the reach of conventional mobile infrastructure. This service provides an additional layer of connectivity, helping customers remain reachable, informed, and connected, even in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable.

To use the service, customers need a compatible LTE Android smartphone along with either an active Airtel DRC data bundle or data roaming enabled. Support for Apple devices is planned for a future rollout. Eligible users can sign up through the MyAirtel App for a free 30-day trial, after which access will run through qualifying Airtel data bundles.

Airtel noted that Starlink‘s satellite-to-mobile constellation currently comprises 650 launched satellites, with additional capabilities expected as the technology matures.

Sunil Taldar, CEO, Airtel Africa, said:

The first-ever commercial launch of Starlink Mobile in Africa is a significant milestone for Airtel Africa through our partnership with SpaceX. By combining Airtel’s terrestrial network with Starlink’s satellite technology, we are extending essential connectivity beyond the limits of conventional mobile infrastructure. The DRC is leading this important development, and the experience gained here will support the progressive expansion of the service across our markets, subject to country-specific regulatory approvals.

The DRC launch follows earlier successful tests of Starlink Mobile in Kenya, though the service has not yet been made commercially available to Airtel customers there. Airtel Africa said further expansion across its footprint will depend on regulatory approval in each individual market.

As it stands, the DRC deployment represents Airtel’s first commercial rollout of Starlink Mobile on the continent, with additional markets to follow as regulatory clearances, device compatibility, and the underlying satellite technology continue to develop.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

AT&T CEO John Stankey just a few days ago said Starlink Mobile was not a threat because its signal couldn't go through walls...but oopsies look what just happened:

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https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-confirms-plans-to-make-starlink-mobile-a-major-us-carrier

SpaceX Confirms Plans to Make Starlink Mobile a 'Major' US Carrier​

SpaceX announces the ambitious goal after acquiring a slice of 800MHz radio spectrum from Grain Management to bulk up Starlink Mobile.

SpaceX is officially declaring that its satellite-to-phone service, Starlink Mobile, will become a major carrier in the US, putting it in direct competition with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

The company did so after acquiring a slice of radio waves from Grain Management, a private investment firm that bought the spectrum from T-Mobile. In the announcement, SpaceX noted: “This prime low-band spectrum addresses one of the key remaining technical gaps that will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the US.”

The plan is to use both next-generation satellites and an “advanced terrestrial deployment” to offer cellular coverage. “This new low-band spectrum will provide a coverage layer that ensures Starlink Mobile’s signal penetrates through obstacles, such as walls, and can provide service to customers’ devices even when they are in buildings. Critically, most existing mobile devices already support this underused band,” the company added.

Specifically, SpaceX says it’s acquiring “up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum” after the Federal Communications Commission cleared Grain to take over the 817 to 824MHz and the 862 to 869MHz bands. Interestingly, rival provider AST SpaceMobile was testing its own satellites to use the radio bands, but it looks like SpaceX swooped in with a better offer.



Terms weren’t disclosed, and the FCC still needs to clear the SpaceX-Grain transaction. Still, the Elon Musk-led company is betting that “Starlink Mobile can now become the first network operator to deploy both satellite and terrestrial spectrum. One network that provides Americans with a reliable service indoors, outdoors, in cellular dead zones, and everywhere in between.”

Last year, the company reached a collective $20 billion deal to acquire additional radio spectrum from Boost Mobile’s parent, EchoStar, to bulk up Starlink Mobile. On Tuesday, the FCC approved SpaceX’s application to launch 15,000 “version 2” satellites for Starlink Mobile and harness the EchoStar spectrum. In addition, the FCC cleared a regulatory path for the company to compete as a retail wireless provider in the US and is preparing further action to free up additional spectrum.

SpaceX can only begin using the EchoStar spectrum once the deal closes, which is slated for November 2027. The phone industry also still needs time to incorporate the chipsets that can use the EchoStar spectrum. So, when Starlink Mobile will launch as a retail wireless carrier remains unclear. Whether T-Mobile will dump SpaceX as a partner is another major question.

In the meantime, telecom experts and executives, including T-Mobile’s outgoing CFO, have been dismissive of SpaceX’s plan to use both satellite and cost-effective radio transmitters, called femtocells, to match the coverage and 5G capabilities of the big three carriers. Ironically, T-Mobile is currently the exclusive US provider of the current version of Starlink Mobile, which uses about 650 satellites and offers speeds at around 4Mbps. The satellite service can eliminate cellular dead zones by providing texting and even data on select mobile apps. But in recent months, T-Mobile has been downplaying the satellite service and floating the possibility of working with rival providers.

 

[BHAN85]

starlink direct to cell should be available in all countries with all operators for emergencies, it could save thousands lives each year potentially.

 

[BHAN85]

btw why starlink dont offer d2c in international waters?

 

[Yasser76]

Guys, whatever spare cash you have, buy SpaceX, 5 years from now your returns will be insane

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

btw why starlink dont offer d2c in international waters?

because it transmits in frequency spectrums allocated by countries for cell service and that changes from country to country.

over international waters nobody can own most frequencies.

So say you had a garage door opener and you decided to hook it up to your boat so you could press a button and your cabin door would open.

Technically that is not legal to use in international waters as maybe that is used by maritime shipping fleets as the SOS channel. You pull into port in Egypt and press the button and now Ambulance service emergency channels start squawking.


Iridium satphones broadcast on the "L" band which cellphones don't use so Starlink direct to cell is out of luck on regular cellphones over water since they don't look at that part of the spectrum.

 

[BHAN85]

because it transmits in frequency spectrums allocated by countries for cell service and that changes from country to country.

over international waters nobody can own most frequencies.

So say you had a garage door opener and you decided to hook it up to your boat so you could press a button and your cabin door would open.

Technically that is not legal to use in international waters as maybe that is used by maritime shipping fleets as the SOS channel. You pull into port in Egypt and press the button and now Ambulance service emergency channels start squawking.


Iridium satphones broadcast on the "L" band which cellphones don't use so Starlink direct to cell is out of luck on regular cellphones over water.

chatgpt tells me in your example it would depend of the flag of the boat (and 433mhz is a ISM band, almost worldwide, the frequency of most garage remote commands)

asking for balloons, satellites, chatgpt says it depends of country from where it's launched.

and it talks about ITU regulations.

idk, it seems answer is not so clear for coverage only in international waters.

btw if i remember correctly, boats usually have much less restrictions transmitting radio than people in ground, more channels available, more tx power allowed and so on.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Elon Musk’s growing SpaceX empire sends AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile shares plunging

The company announced plans to “become a major mobile carrier in the U.S.” in part by buying spectrum and deploying satellites for its Starlink service.

www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk’s growing SpaceX empire sends AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile shares plunging​

The company announced plans to “become a major mobile carrier in the U.S.” in part by buying spectrum and deploying satellites for its Starlink service.

Elon Musk’s plan for SpaceX to “become a major mobile carrier in the U.S.” sent shares of the nation’s big three wireless carriers sliding by double digits Friday, wiping out more than $50 billion in market value before lunch.


“Once we receive final FCC approval, Starlink Mobile will deploy a flexible architecture combining our satellite-to-mobile constellation in space with an advanced terrestrial deployment that can seamlessly connect devices everywhere,” the company said late Thursday.

It also announced that the Federal Communications Commission had approved the launch of 15,000 new satellites, also under Starlink Mobile, which is a subsidiary of SpaceX.

Shares of AT&T fell 9.8%, Verizon dropped 8.7%, while T-Mobile US plunged 13.3%. For Verizon, today’s performance was its worst-one day drop since 2002. It was T-Mobile’s worst day since 2011.

Shares of Charter and of Comcast, the parent company of NBC News, also fell Friday. Both companies sell wireless services under their own brands using Verizon’s infrastructure.

Musk’s empire expands​

The announcement from SpaceX marked Musk’s latest step to expand his global tech empire. The world’s richest man and its first-ever trillionaire, Musk’s net worth as of Thursday was about $990 billion.

Musk’s constellation of companies already includes electric vehicle maker Tesla, the social media site X and xAI, which builds data centers and develops artificial intelligence.

SpaceX includes multiple lines of business, too. Starlink sells high-speed internet to companies and consumers worldwide, while Starshield does the same, but to governments.

But the major money maker for SpaceX is Starlink, which was worth $2.2 trillion as of Friday.

With more than 12 million paying subscribers, Starlink is also the only profitable part of SpaceX’s business, according to its latest earnings report.

The acquisition of spectrum was “the last critical piece of the spectrum puzzle needed for SpaceX to provide complete phone coverage in America,” Musk wrote on n X.

SpaceX is also a massive U.S. government contractor, building and launching rockets on behalf of NASA and several national security agencies.

Favorable decisions by government regulators and additional agency contracts are crucial to maintaining SpaceX’s lofty valuation.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Guys, whatever spare cash you have, buy SpaceX, 5 years from now your returns will be insane

Remember he has a heavy lift rocket coming online..he can lift insane sized satellites into orbit without the previous worry of weight inefficiencies.

Like imagine those companies that sell satellite images and SpaceX lofts their own with some insane 9meter mirror width to LEO. He'd crush them instantly. As I said he doesn't need to worry about weight (100+ ton capacity) so it could be some brute force monster that weighs as much as a tank with a 30 year fuel supply.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

now this is Starlink Mobile satellites..not the the current ~11,000 (of 19,400) Starlink internet constellation. So its 15,000+19,400=34,400 satellites

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-green-lights-spacexs-15000-satellites-for-starlink-mobile

FCC Green Lights SpaceX's 15,000 Satellites for Starlink Mobile​

The FCC's grant is crucial to SpaceX's effort to turn Starlink Mobile into a potential rival to the big three carriers. The 15,000 satellites have been also cleared to use the acquired EchoStar radio spectrum, and also frequencies from T-Mobile.

In a regulatory win, SpaceX has secured approval to launch and operate 15,000 next-gen satellites for Starlink Mobile, the company’s service to deliver satellite connectivity to phones.

On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission cleared the company’s request for the 15,000 satellite constellation after SpaceX originally filed the application back in Sept. 2025. In addition, the FCC issued a waiver so that SpaceX can offer wireless services through satellites without entering into a leasing agreement with a ground-based mobile operator.

The approval seems to create a regulatory path for SpaceX to turn Starlink Mobile into a competitor to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, something that SpaceX executives have already been teasing. Currently, “version 1” of Starlink Mobile is exclusively available in the US through T-Mobile as T-Satellite —but it only uses around 650 satellites with data speeds estimated at 4Mbps.

In contrast, the upcoming 15,000 satellite constellation promises to deliver 5G speeds at 150Mbps per user, according to the company. Rather than using traditional cell towers, SpaceX envisions harnessing both satellites and smaller, cost effective ground-based femtocells to offer cellular coverage for phones, including in suburban areas and cities. That said, some in the telecom industry, including T-Mobile’s CFO, have been dismissive of the approach.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

5G speeds at 150Mbps per user

That's 4G speeds, it should be at least 400 Mbps.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

That's 4G speeds, it should be at least 400 Mbps.

Possibly throttling bandwidth intentionally.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Just now reading this thread.

Sad; as this is what Iridium should have been.

European carriers fearful they may end up like legacy auto when they didn't take EVs seriously.

TLDR: They will pool money to buy the spectrums SpaceX needs in Europe to enable direct-to-cell service and/or try to get those spectrums restricted to ownership by EU companies only.

Europe's Big Four Telecoms Unite Against Starlink

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, Vodafone plan joint satellite spectrum bid

www.techbuzz.ai

Europe's Big Four Telecoms Unite Against Starlink

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, Vodafone plan joint satellite spectrum bid


Four of Europe's largest mobile carriers just drew a line in the sand against SpaceX's satellite dominance. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to pursue a joint spectrum bid that would power a homegrown direct-to-device satellite network, marking the continent's most coordinated response yet to Starlink's rapid expansion. The alliance would see the telecoms handle ground infrastructure while an unnamed satellite partner provides the orbital constellation, setting up a showdown over who controls Europe's next-generation connectivity.

Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone are betting that strength in numbers can counter SpaceX's first-mover advantage in satellite-to-phone connectivity. The four carriers announced they're exploring a joint bid for spectrum that would enable direct-to-device satellite services across Europe, according to a letter of intent published by Deutsche Telekom.

The timing isn't coincidental. SpaceX has been aggressively expanding its wireless ambitions, deploying thousands of satellites and acquiring spectrum in a play that sent traditional telecom stocks tumbling. The European alliance represents a defensive maneuver by incumbents who watched Starlink's U.S. network plans trigger a telecom stock rout just weeks ago, with Verizon suffering its worst trading day since 2002.

The European carriers say their joint initiative aims to "meet customer demand for universal coverage in underserved areas, strengthen the resilience of public networks, protect critical communications, and support development" of next-generation connectivity. But the subtext is clear - this is about preventing SpaceX from owning the satellite-to-phone market the way it dominates orbital launch services.

The partnership divides responsibilities in a way that plays to each side's strengths. The four telecoms would manage terrestrial infrastructure, leveraging their existing cell tower networks, spectrum licenses, and customer relationships. An unnamed satellite partner - whose identity the carriers haven't disclosed - would handle the orbital side, deploying and operating the constellation that beams signals directly to standard smartphones.

That mystery partner is the critical variable. Amazon has been ramping up its Project Kuiper constellation, recently hitting 1,000 satellites in its production pipeline. European satellite operators like Eutelsat and SES have direct-to-device ambitions but lack SpaceX's manufacturing scale. The partnership structure suggests the carriers want flexibility to negotiate with multiple potential satellite providers rather than locking in too early.

The spectrum bid itself will be the first major battleground. European regulators have been weighing how to allocate frequencies for satellite services, with the FCC's recent moves toward a 25MHz auction setting a precedent that Brussels is watching closely. A unified bid from four major carriers carries political weight that could influence how European spectrum authorities structure their auctions.

But the European alliance faces formidable challenges. SpaceX has already launched over 6,000 Starlink satellites and demonstrated working direct-to-phone connectivity with T-Mobile in the U.S. The company's vertical integration - building rockets, satellites, and ground equipment in-house - gives it cost advantages that traditional aerospace contractors can't match. SpaceX recently secured $40 billion in financing for a massive Nvidia GPU purchase, underscoring its access to capital and willingness to invest at scale.


The carriers also have to navigate complex regulatory environments across multiple European countries, each with different spectrum rules and national security concerns about satellite infrastructure. Getting four major telecoms to coordinate on technology standards, investment timelines, and revenue sharing will test whether this alliance can move fast enough to matter.

What's driving the urgency is the recognition that satellite connectivity isn't a niche feature anymore. Direct-to-device service promises to eliminate dead zones in rural areas, provide backup during natural disasters, and enable IoT applications that current cellular networks can't reach. Whoever controls that infrastructure gains leverage over the entire mobile ecosystem. The European carriers watched SpaceX's spectrum deals reshape competitive dynamics in the U.S. and decided that surrendering the European market without a fight wasn't an option.

The letter of intent is just the opening move. The carriers still need to finalize their satellite partnership, submit formal spectrum bids, secure regulatory approvals, and actually deploy a working network. SpaceX, meanwhile, keeps launching satellites at a pace of roughly 100 per month. The question isn't whether Europe can build a satellite network - the technology exists - but whether a consortium of legacy telecoms can execute fast enough to compete with a company that's rewriting the rules of the space industry.

Future tech predictions

Europe's telecom giants are making their stand against SpaceX's satellite ambitions, but they're fighting an uphill battle against a competitor that's already in orbit and launching faster than traditional aerospace ever imagined. The joint spectrum bid signals that European carriers recognize the existential threat of losing connectivity infrastructure to a Silicon Valley outsider. Whether this alliance can translate coordination into execution speed will determine if Europe builds its own satellite future or becomes a customer of Elon Musk's constellation. The spectrum auctions ahead won't just allocate radio frequencies - they'll decide who controls the next layer of global communications infrastructure.

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US warns EU of possible response over satellite spectrum restrictions

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder warned of possible US measures if the EU reserves satellite spectrum for European operators, potentially limiting access for SpaceX and Amazon.

ua.news

US Ambassador to the EU warns of possible response to spectrum restrictions — Anadolu Agency​

US Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder warned that European companies could face potential US retaliatory measures in the American market. This could happen if the EU advances a proposal to reserve a significant portion of radio spectrum for direct satellite-to-smartphone communications for European operators, Anadolu Agency reports.