Starlink, in a partnership with Deutsche Telekom, will bring mobile communications to areas where network expansion is difficult or challenging though satellite communications (SATCOM).
The service will operate in Starlink’s Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum, and the planned direct-to-device services will allow compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites. This will allow smartphones to automatically switch to Starlink’s satellite network when smartphones lose terrestrial mobile signal.
This means that mobile users will still be able to access data, video, voice and text messaging services even when terrestrial services are unavailable. The companies said this adds a connectivity layer beyond traditional cellular.
SATCOM has been a growing trend among telecom carriers due to this ability to enable always-on coverage regardless of where a user goes — a national park, a remote village, areas with little or no cell towers.
Deutsche Telekom said it will ramp up the number of compatible devices in Europe to support STACOM for the planned launch of the direct-to-device services in 2028. Starlink’s next-generation satellite constellation is expected to go online by this time. It will be the first partnership for Starlink’s V2 satellite constellation, the company said.
Deutsche Telekom said the investment in SATCOM is part of its infrastructure expansion including regions that are complex due to topographic conditions or official constraints.
Deutsche Telekom provides 5G coverage to close to 90% of Germany’s area and LTE covers more than 92%. Starlink connectivity will extend that reach of the existing infrastructure than terrestrial mobile networks.
