Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, has successfully deployed six Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability, ushering in a transformative shift in the global mobile communication landscape. The announcement was made on Wednesday through SpaceX’s official communication channel, X, emphasizing the satellites’ potential to enhance global connectivity and eliminate communication dead zones.
As reported by Nairametrics in October of the previous year, the planned satellite launch and the subsequent rollout of direct-to-mobile services in 2024 are part of Starlink’s ambitious initiative. The company aims to initiate the service with texting this year, followed by the launch of voice, data, and IoT services in 2025. Starlink assures users that the service will seamlessly integrate with existing 4G-enabled devices, eliminating the need for phone upgrades.
Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind SpaceX, commented on the launch, highlighting that the new satellite constellation would enable mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth. However, he clarified that the satellite service does not compete with traditional terrestrial mobile networks, citing limitations in data speed per beam.
Musk stated, “Note that this only supports ~7Mb per beam, and the beams are massive, so while this is a great solution for locations with no cellular connectivity, it is not meaningfully competitive with existing terrestrial cellular networks.”
Starlink envisions a future where its satellites with Direct-to-Cell capabilities offer ubiquitous access to texting, calling, and browsing across diverse landscapes, including land, lakes, and coastal waters. The company emphasized that the Direct-to-Cell feature works seamlessly with current LTE phones, requiring no changes to hardware, firmware, or special applications.
Despite Starlink’s relatively higher hardware and monthly subscription costs compared to competitors in the Nigerian market, the company has gained significant traction since its official launch in the country a year ago. Musk’s internet company has established itself as one of Nigeria’s leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
While Musk downplays direct competition with terrestrial mobile network operators, industry giants such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and Airtel may experience customer attrition once Starlink introduces voice and data services via satellite in Nigeria. MTN Group has taken proactive steps, announcing its ongoing discussions with Starlink to explore collaboration opportunities and expand services to previously underserved areas across its operating market.
