A new era is loading from wired cobweb to CDMA, from CDMA to GSM, and now from GSM to satellite: “Elon Musk-owned satellite internet Starlink, is growing rapidly in Kenya after the subscription grew by 1,955.3%, a year after the launch of the internet service in Kenya.”
I got the new iPhone for Ifeoma last week {the only gift that is appreciated very much}. Today, she said something like “I heard Elon Musk is launching a phone that works through satellite…same number anywhere you go”. You know what? That phone capability exists at scale for the masses. The problem is that the US government does not want to distort the telecom industry yet.
In addition to the thousands (>10k) of Starlink kits we are delivering in response to Hurricane Helene, the @Starlink team and @TMobile activated our Direct to Cell satellites to provide emergency alerts for all phones and carriers of those in affected areas.
The @FCC has also…
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 8, 2024
SpaceX has received emergency temporary approval to provide space-based connectivity to T-Mobile customers in Florida who may lose cellular service due to Hurricane Milton.
A source familiar with the situation said the Federal Communications Commission granted SpaceX a 15-day special temporary authority (STA) for the storm’s projected path across central Florida.
SpaceX said in an Oct. 8 social media post that it has enabled basic texting services on T-Mobile phones in areas affected by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, following similar regulatory approval granted after Helene caused cellular outages in North Carolina weeks earlier.
The company said it has also activated the more than 100 direct-to-smartphone satellites launched so far to deliver emergency alerts to all phones and carriers used by those affected by the hurricanes.
How do I know? When hurricanes hit many parts of Florida a few days ago, they gave Musk’s Starlink temporary approval to activate satellite-based services to mobile devices (your normal mobile phones) via TMobile. That TMobile part is to keep things in check as with a little modification, Starlink will go directly to customers.
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