Direct-to-Cell Revolution: What It Is and When It Will Work in Your Country
In August 2022, SpaceX and T-Mobile announced a partnership to add Direct-to-Cell texting via Starlink satellites, enabling roaming coverage for remote areas using SpaceX’s constellation. SpaceX launched the first Direct-to-Cell–equipped Starlink satellites in early 2024, and by mid-2025 there were about 400 such satellites in orbit. On January 8, 2024, SpaceX successfully sent a text message from a regular smartphone via a Starlink satellite through T-Mobile’s network. Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service is expected to start with texting in 2024, add voice calls in 2025, and deliver modest data speeds later. AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 prototype uses a ~700 square-foot phased array
