Direct-to-cell

Satellite service that connects directly to ordinary, unmodified mobile phones using normal cellular frequencies.

• The satellite acts as a cell tower in space, filling coverage gaps at sea, in wilderness and during disasters.
• Phones transmit only about a fifth of a watt and expect a tower a few kilometres away, so satellites need very large, sensitive antennas.
• AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites unfold arrays of about 220 m²; SpaceX's direct-to-cell Starlinks serve T-Mobile customers.
• Each beam's capacity is shared by everyone beneath it, indoor signal is weak, and each country must license the spectrum.