By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet constellation has made significant progress in providing broadband internet to underserved areas globally. Its latest innovation, direct-to-cell technology, could further revolutionize global connectivity.
“We launched to orbit our first six Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities. Launch and early tests of the technology were all completed without issue. On Monday, January 8, less than 6 days after launch, we sent and received our first text messages to and from unmodified cell phones on the ground to our new satellites in space using T- Mobile network spectrum. This validates that our link budget closes, and the system works!” said an excited team from Starlink.
According to Starlink this technology allows their satellites to communicate directly with cell phones, bypassing the need for traditional cell towers. The Direct-to-cell technology could provide cell phone coverage in remote and rural areas where building cell towers is not economically feasible. This would be particularly beneficial for developing countries, where a lack of infrastructure has hindered connectivity.
Direct-to-cell technology could also be a vital communication and coordination tool in the wake of natural disasters, where cell towers are often damaged or destroyed.
By eliminating the need for expensive cell tower infrastructure, direct-to-cell technology could significantly reduce the cost of providing cell phone service. This could lead to lower prices for consumers and increased competition in the telecommunications industry.
“In addition, Starlink has also established a new Point of Presence (POP) in Nairobi, Kenya, as the first African country to host such a facility, reducing latency for African users and increasing internet capacity in East Africa. Game-changer for rural connectivity & emergencies!” said Gbolahan Alabi-Isama from the LEO Satelite community of the Internet Society.
Starlink’s news closely follows Nigeria’s decision to raise telecom tariffs for end users by 50%.
According to the Nation Nigeria, a virtual meeting was held between 10:30 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. on January 20, leading to the approval of a 50% tariff hike for end-user telecom services. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, along with a dozen other participants.
The discussions focused on determining the appropriate percentage increase to be approved. Notably, the Minister had previously rejected a request for a 100 percent hike, as proposed by MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, on behalf of telecom companies.
While there are still technical and regulatory challenges to overcome, Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology holds immense promise for transforming global connectivity. Providing affordable and reliable cell phone service to people in all corners of the world, could bridge the digital divide and unlock new opportunities for economic development, education, and healthcare.
