SpaceX is poised to elevate its Starlink internet service with the upcoming beta testing of its Direct-to-Cell (DTC) Starlink satellites, which will allow mobile phones to connect directly to cellular services from nearly any location on Earth.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, confirmed the start of the DTC satellite service’s beta testing phase, which will begin on January 27, through a post on X (formerly Twitter). Musk’s announcement came in response to a similar Starlink post by Mario Nawfal, founder of IBC Group, also on X.
The DTC service will enable mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, bypassing traditional cellular infrastructure. This innovation could revolutionize communications, allowing individuals to text, make calls, and access the internet even in remote areas where conventional cell towers are unavailable.
It should be noted that Starlink, SpaceX’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, consists of nearly 7,000 satellites and currently provides high-speed internet access to over 4.6 million users across more than 118 countries. SpaceX continues to launch batches of more than 20 Starlink satellites each week, with each batch including several Direct-to-Cell satellites.
