Starlink is a game changer in the world of satellite internet.
It has already surpassed the traditional satellite internet providers in terms of speed and unlimited data.
As such, people are expecting more services from Starlink. Satellite phone service is undoubtedly one of them.
Satellite phone service is a necessity in areas where establishing a cellular connection is close to impossible.
This article will walk through the prospects of Starlink offering satellite phone service and how it would reshape the communication industry.
So keep reading the post till the end.
Does Starlink Offer Satellite Phone Service?
Starlink is a satellite internet provider. Satellite internet is different from traditional broadband internet. It uses satellites to connect you to the internet instead of a wired connection to your house.
HughesNet and Viasat are two major satellite internet providers. They use geostationary satellites to serve the internet, which is placed at high altitudes. The data has to travel a long distance, so latency is relatively high.
On the contrary, Starlink uses low Earth orbit satellites. Low Earth orbit satellites are placed at low altitudes, so the data travels significantly less distance, bringing the latency down.
To operate satellites in lower orbit, Starlink has to deploy a high number of satellites. It targets deploying around 42000 satellites in the near future, though about 3000 of them have already been deployed.
These low orbit satellites have phased array antennas, which can be utilized in multiple ways. Since the Starlink satellites are in lower orbit, and there are many of them, satellite phone service is an open opportunity for Starlink.
If Starlink satellites use antennas that can send and receive frequencies supported on smartphones, satellite phone service is a possibility.
Currently, the low Earth orbit satellites in deployment do not have such antennas. As such, Starlink currently does not have a satellite phone service in operation.
But Starlink has expressed its ambitions to support satellite phone service in the near future. Starlink wishes to collaborate with the leading mobile carriers and bring satellite phone service to their users.
Starlink might also be working on a new device. Recently, Starlink filed an FCC request (link), allowing Starlink to use a 2GHz frequency. It also mentions small, portable devices.
If Starlink could use antennas capable of using 2GHz frequency on their satellites, it would enable them to communicate with portable devices like smartphones. Objects less obstruct 2GHz frequency and thus is suitable for portable devices.
Starlink might make a portable device that will communicate with the Starlink low Earth orbit satellites through 2GHz frequency. Then the portable device can connect to other devices like smartphones.
It’s all speculation based on the FCC filing, but it is a strong possibility.
Even if such a device never becomes a reality, there are other possibilities, like collaboration with mobile carriers. It will enable mobile carrier users to access frequencies from Starlink satellites.
In fact, Starlink has announced a collaboration with T-Mobile regarding the matter. More details are in the next section.
Related contents you should read can you cancel Starlink internet anytime?
Starlink Collaborates With T-Mobile For Satellite Phone Service
Starlink and T-Mobile announced a significant collaboration on August 25, 2022, that will enable T-Mobile users to communicate with Starlink low Earth orbit satellites.
The collaboration titled “Coverage Above and Beyond” will connect smartphones of T-Mobile users to Starlink satellites.
Starlink’s current low Earth orbit satellites do not have the antenna required for communicating with smartphones. Hence Starlink has a new version of the satellite, which will contain the antenna and other modules required to communicate with smartphones.
The new satellites, labeled Version 2, will weigh substantially more than the previous ones. The weight will increase to 1130 kg, up from 300 kg.
The new antennas used to communicate with smartphones are pretty advanced. These antennas will pick up frequencies from the smartphone. Compared to Dishy, the frequency from the smartphone will be quiet for obvious reasons.
Receiving the smartphone signal on the cell tower is not a significant issue. But on a satellite up in the sky, the distance is high, and the satellite is moving at high speed (as it’s a low Earth orbit satellite).
Elon Musk says the technology and the new antennas work in the laboratory, so they are confident it will work in real life.
When these new satellites are deployed, T-Mobile users can connect to the new satellites through their smartphones for basic messaging. It will help remove dead zones, and people can send messages during emergency situations.
In the near future, the service will be expanded to include voice calls and rich text messaging.
Starlink does not want to limit itself to T-Mobile only. Elon Musk expressed his wishes to collaborate with major global mobile carriers and called it an “open invitation.”
If it becomes a reality, we will take a giant leap to remove dead zones across the world. People would be able to communicate through their smartphones from almost all parts of the world without using special gear.
Benefits Of Satellite Phone Service
Satellite phone service would help people to get a cellular network where it is currently unavailable. Just as satellite internet connection reaches places where broadband internet is unable to, satellite phone service will reach places where the cellular tower cannot be established.
Satellite phone service will remove the dead zones in a country and bring the whole landscape under cellular coverage. You need not worry about getting out of reach.
Usually, the remote areas of a country do not have cellular coverage. Emergency situations often arise in such remote places. So it’s crucial to have some type of network in such areas. Satellite phone service will be of immense help in such places and situations.
Also, nowadays, people want to be flexible in terms of location. After the pandemic, the work-from-home situation has taught us many interesting facts. A significant number of employees want to work from their homes or other remote places away from the chaotic and busy urban areas.
Improving the network coverage through satellite phone service and satellite internet connection will make such a dream come true.
Decent satellite internet is a reality now due to Starlink. If Starlink can work with the mobile carriers and make satellite phone service worthy enough, it will also significantly impact the communication industry and society.
Check out the easiest way for remotely connect to the Starlink app.
Existing Alternatives To Starlink Satellite Phone Service
It will take some time to get Starlink satellite phone service going. In the meanwhile, there are some workarounds.
First of all, Starlink satellite internet is already in action. So Starlink internet users can use WiFi calling as an alternative to voice calls.
Smartphones can connect to the Starlink router, then use the WiFi calling feature to make calls from places where cellular coverage is absent.
Starlink RV users can take advantage of it to use a “satellite phone service” of sorts.
FCC has approved using Starlink dish while moving. So you can mount Starlink RV on the roof of your vehicle and use WiFi calling feature. It is a workaround for the satellite phone service.
But beware that Starlink officially does not support using Starlink internet while moving. It creates a problem with the Dishy (as it has to continuously realign itself, which it was not designed to do), and the Starlink satellite constellation is not configured for it.
So you might damage the hardware and also disrupt the Starlink internet service in the area. Since Starlink does not support it officially, your warranty will be void if you damage the hardware.
Follow our guide about Starlink Vs. Viasat.
Final Thoughts
Starlink satellite internet is shaping up to be a significant player in the communication industry. The progress thus made is excellent and is only going to get better. When Starlink gets close to its target of deploying 42000 satellites, it will cover almost the whole planet into a constellation of satellites.
Starlink also has the potential to introduce satellite phone service. FCC filing and other sources point toward it becoming a reality. Recently Starlink collaborated with T-Mobile to bring emergency messaging to users of T-Mobile. In this collaboration, T-Mobile users can use their smartphones to connect to Starlink satellites and send texts.
So it is pretty apparent that Starlink will expand its operations on satellite phone service. Starlink has already developed Version 2 of the satellites, which contain antennas capable of connecting to smartphones.
