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Elon Musk’s SpaceX is looking to expand beyond satellite phones and move towards satellite smartphones. The company’s Starlink constellation, consisting of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, aims to offer accessible telephony services worldwide.

According to Starlink’s website, the service will be available wherever “you can see the sky.” By utilizing its constellation of 5,000 satellites (which is expected to grow in number), Starlink will transform them into relay antennas in space, providing coverage in previously network-deprived areas such as deserts, mountains, and national parks where traditional ground-based relay stations are prohibited.

Users will not need to purchase new equipment or download any special applications. Starlink is partnering with operators in the United States, Japan, Oceania, and Switzerland, with plans for expansion into other markets. The pricing details for the “satellite package” have yet to be announced, and the speed may be limited to four megabits per second. While slower than current smartphones, it is still a significant improvement for those in remote areas with no connectivity.

As for the timeline, there’s no specific date for the launch of this service. Elon Musk has a reputation for making ambitious announcements. Starlink predicts that texting services will be available by 2024, while voice calling and mobile data services are expected in 2025. However, these timelines depend in part on the success of SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which is larger than the Falcon 9 currently in use. The commercial operation of the Starship is still pending, and it also needs approval from regulatory authorities, specifically the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Competition will likely pose a challenge for Starlink. Apple, for instance, has equipped its new iPhones with satellite connectivity but limited to emergency messaging. This feature is not available on Android smartphones. AST SpaceMobile, affiliated with major US operator AT&T, successfully made a phone call using traditional smartphones over a 5G connection provided by a satellite a few weeks ago. Companies like Qualcomm and Motorola are also developing their own satellite communication technologies.

However, Starlink’s advantage lies in its vast network of thousands of satellites. Even if parts of the network experience issues, this scale gives it a significant advantage over its competitors. It has been suggested that this system could also be integrated into Tesla vehicles, a company closely associated with Elon Musk.

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