13:30Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
SpaceX to Acquire Spectrum to Turn Starlink Mobile into a Major Mobile Operator
SpaceX has agreed to acquire low-frequency communications spectrum to turn its Starlink Mobile service into a major mobile operator in the US. The company will acquire 100% of Grain Management’s nationwide spectrum portfolio. The deal will take effect following approval by the US Federal Communications Commission. This will provide the key technical component currently missing from the mobile network.
The deal involves a paired 14 MHz band in the 800 MHz range. Separate frequencies are allocated for sending and receiving data. The low frequency will help the Starlink Mobile signal pass through walls and other obstacles more effectively. Most mobile devices support this frequency range. As a result, the service could reach millions of potential customers through their existing phones. At the end of last year, SpaceX also acquired 2 GHz spectrum licenses used for mobile and satellite communications from EchoStar. The new plan will combine direct-to-phone satellite connectivity with a terrestrial mobile network. The company aims to use this to compete directly in the US market with operators such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. SpaceX says the new spectrum and second-generation Starlink satellites could make it the first network operator to operate on both satellite and terrestrial frequencies. The low frequency should make indoor connectivity more reliable. Satellite internet will also provide connectivity in open areas, places beyond the reach of mobile networks and remote regions. The US Federal Communications Commission has also authorized SpaceX to launch satellites compatible with the 2 GHz spectrum into orbit. This involves 15,000 Starlink Mobile Gen2 satellites. According to the company’s estimates, these satellites will have more than 100 times the data transmission capacity of the current generation. The increased capacity could help provide high-speed internet service in more regions around the world.
The deal involves a paired 14 MHz band in the 800 MHz range. Separate frequencies are allocated for sending and receiving data. The low frequency will help the Starlink Mobile signal pass through walls and other obstacles more effectively. Most mobile devices support this frequency range. As a result, the service could reach millions of potential customers through their existing phones. At the end of last year, SpaceX also acquired 2 GHz spectrum licenses used for mobile and satellite communications from EchoStar. The new plan will combine direct-to-phone satellite connectivity with a terrestrial mobile network. The company aims to use this to compete directly in the US market with operators such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. SpaceX says the new spectrum and second-generation Starlink satellites could make it the first network operator to operate on both satellite and terrestrial frequencies. The low frequency should make indoor connectivity more reliable. Satellite internet will also provide connectivity in open areas, places beyond the reach of mobile networks and remote regions. The US Federal Communications Commission has also authorized SpaceX to launch satellites compatible with the 2 GHz spectrum into orbit. This involves 15,000 Starlink Mobile Gen2 satellites. According to the company’s estimates, these satellites will have more than 100 times the data transmission capacity of the current generation. The increased capacity could help provide high-speed internet service in more regions around the world.