SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has plans to test Starlink, T-Mobile’s phone service this year. This is to eradicate dead zones all over the globe, execs say.

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• According to Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX executive, Starlink and T-Mobile will be testing their service in 2023. This was according to CNBC.
• It could be the beginning of cellular connectivity for Americans living in areas without cell service.
• Elon Musk tweeted previously that the service would "eliminate all dead zones around the world."

CNBC reported that a SpaceX executive stated that the company would begin testing Starlink and T-Mobile’s satellite-to-cell services this year.

Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX vice president of Starlink commercials, provided the update on Monday during a panel at the Satellite 2023 conference, in Washington D.C., as per Michael Sheetz, CNBC reporter.

According to the report, Hofeller did not give a date for the testing of the cell service in 2023. This means that SpaceX and T-Mobile will be able to offer cellular connectivity to those who live in areas without cell coverage.

Hofeller stated Monday that "we're going to learn lots by doing — and not necessarily by overanalyzing — getting out there," according to CNBC.

T-Mobile and SpaceX announced that they would be collaborating to offer mobile phone service via Starlink satellites from low-Earth orbit. According to the companies, the service would provide almost complete coverage in all areas of the US, including rural areas that are not currently connected to traditional cell signal.

Elon Musk tweeted that the new service would be able to eliminate "dead zones" worldwide and "work great for voice calls and texting." This feature will be available in future Tesla vehicles so that they can connect to Starlink satellites for emergency texts and calls.

T-Mobile and SpaceX didn't respond immediately to Insider's request to comment outside of US operating hours.

Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet constellation that offers broadband service to customers around the globe, is called SpaceX Starlink. The service costs $110 per month or slightly less depending on where you live. Users can also purchase the kit for $600.

Hofeller stated that Starlink has more satellites than 4,000 in orbit during Monday's conference. This was per CNBC. SpaceX launches satellites approximately twice per week, and it's "not crazy to think that boss will push for more," he said in a Twitter tweet by Sheetz.

Hofeller stated that the company produces six satellites per day and thousands of user terminals each day.

This move is intended to keep up with large user bases. SpaceX stated in December that Starlink has more than one million subscribers around the globe. Hofeller said Monday that there are now "well above" 1 million users. This is an increase of 145,000 users from the beginning 2022.

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By: kduffy@insider.com (Kate Duffy)
Title: Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to test Starlink and T-Mobile’s cell phone service this year in an attempt to eliminate dead zones worldwide, exec says
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/spacex-t-mobile-test-starlink-service-this-year-cell-phones-2023-3
Published Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:16:56 +0000

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