Musk’s SpaceX is going to make a phone that can connect directly to Starlink!

SpaceX is planning to launch a dedicated Starlink smartphone that can directly connect to its Starlink satellite constellation .

Three sources familiar with the matter revealed that SpaceX has been developing this phone project for years. It is one of the important initiatives for Starlink to expand into new markets and, together with direct-connection internet services and space tracking services, will form a new growth curve for Starlink before its IPO.

It’s worth noting that when Musk was asked about the possibility of a Starlink phone on the X platform last week, he gave an ambiguous response, saying at the time that “it’s not entirely impossible in the future.”

In addition, SpaceX has filed a trademark application for “Starlink Mobile” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, officially advancing its independent 5G mobile operator plan.

Moreover, SpaceX is expected to launch its initial public offering (IPO) this year, and Starlink, as a core revenue business, urgently needs new growth points, with handheld terminal mobile devices providing a new direction .

In January of this year, SpaceX successfully launched its first batch of Direct to Cell satellites, enabling it to provide text, voice, and data services to LTE phones worldwide. To date, the Starlink DTC (Direct to Cell) constellation has deployed more than 650 satellites.

If Starlink phones are successfully launched, they will break the traditional mobile operator monopoly and provide users with a globally unified communication service, which will be especially beneficial to remote areas, maritime areas, aviation areas and other scenarios with insufficient ground signal coverage.

However, challenges also exist: direct satellite connections suffer from high signal loss, while mobile phone battery capacity is limited, and the contradiction between the two needs to be resolved; the penetration of satellite signals needs to be further improved to ensure normal use indoors; most importantly, telecommunications spectrum management policies vary from country to country, and operating licenses need to be obtained from each country individually .