#direct to cell

Globe Telecom has officially partnered with Starlink to bring Direct to Cell (DTC) satellite service to the Philippines, making it the first telco in Southeast Asia to offer this breakthrough technology. Starlink’s satellites will essentially act as “cell towers in space,” beaming signals directly to mobile phones and seamlessly connecting through its network of over 650 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Starlink’s Direct to Cell service has already been deployed globally, delivering millions of SMS messages and emergency alerts during critical situations. SpaceX successfully launched six Starlink satellites equipped to provide mobile coverage directly to conventional smartphones, a service aimed at enhancing global connectivity and eradicating areas with no network coverage. [caption id="attachment_348920" align="alignnone" width="720"] Starlink Direct to Cell[/caption] The first users to benefit from the direct-to-device Starlink services for worldwide connectivity include T-Mobile US, Rogers Communications in Canada, Optus in Australia, KDDI in Japan, One New Zealand, Salt Mobile in Switzerland, and Entel Chile. Starlink's future plans include enabling SMS messaging directly from its satellites this year, with voice and data services expected to commence in 2025. [caption id="attachment_348921" align="alignnone" width="720"] Starlink Direct to Cell[/caption] The direct-to-phone technology eliminates the need for ground stations to facilitate connectivity, although its current coverage is more restricted compared to standard non-terrestrial network coverage. Read more in our articles including "Globe and Starlink Launch Direct-to-Cell Satellite Service in the Philippines" and "SpaceX launches first six Starlink Direct to Cell satellites".