Starting in October 2025, millions of conventional mobile phones will begin connecting directly to satellites in low orbit thanks to the DTC (Direct to Cell) service of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet project.
This change not only implies a significant improvement in network coverage, but also a structural redesign of the global mobile telecommunications model.
The integration of cellular networks with satellite infrastructure represents a turning point that, in addition to its technical benefits, poses regulatory, economic and geopolitical challenges.
“Infrastructure determines the scope of connectivity”
By: Gabriel E. Levy B.
The evolution of mobile telecommunications has always been conditioned by its infrastructure.
From the expansion of cell towers in the 1990s to the recent deployment of 5G networks, coverage depended on the density of nodes on the ground.
This model excluded vast regions of the planet where installing antennas was neither profitable nor viable.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in 2023 more than 17% of the world’s population still lived in areas without cellular coverage.
For years, attempts to bring connectivity to these areas relied on traditional satellite technologies.
But these solutions required expensive, low-energy efficiency devices with significant operational limitations.
Along these lines, satellite phones offered connectivity restricted to very specific niches: security forces, explorers, international organizations and corporate users.
The promise of global coverage accessible to ordinary citizens has remained, until now, unattainable.
In his book The Network Society, Manuel Castells analyzes how digital infrastructure creates new forms of inclusion and exclusion.
In this sense, the innovation proposed by Starlink is not only technical, but social: the possibility of a conventional telephone connecting to space without mediation redefines access as a potentially universal right and not as a privilege conditioned by geography or population density.
“From the terrestrial spectrum to the orbital: how the DTC connection works”
Starlink’s DTC (Direct to Cell) system is designed to enable direct mobile connectivity between ordinary smartphones and its constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
This technology is supported by second-generation (Gen2) satellites, launched since the beginning of 2023, which are equipped with large phased array antennas capable of tracking and communicating with devices on the ground.
Unlike traditional cellular networks, which rely on fixed towers and base stations distributed on the ground, Starlink’s system replaces that architecture with mobile satellites that orbit about 500 kilometers above the Earth.
Each satellite functions as a “space cell tower,” with the ability to emit directed beams that can be dynamically adjusted to cover specific regions.
This design allows the use of conventional LTE mobile phones without hardware modification.
In practical terms, the user’s phone connects to a Starlink satellite in the same way it would connect to a terrestrial cell tower.
The difference is that the link is established through space, with a signal that travels hundreds of kilometers to reach the satellite network.
One of the most advanced elements of the system is the use of laser intersatellite links.
These links allow satellites to communicate with each other without the need to go through ground stations, reducing latency and enabling truly global coverage.
In this way, a message sent from a mountain in Chile can be routed by several satellites to an exit station in Europe or Asia, all without going through intermediate ground infrastructure.
The service, which begins operations in October, will initially be limited to applications with low bandwidth requirements, such as text and voice messaging, geolocation, weather updates and emergency calls.
The incorporation of faster voice and data calls will be progressive, once the field tests have been validated and the connection protocols have been optimized.
This gradual approach ensures the stability of the system and avoids the overload of satellite channels, which, although robust, have technical limitations compared to the volume of traffic handled by a terrestrial network.
Integration with traditional mobile operators is another key element of the model, as it allows access to licensed spectrum to be managed in a coordinated manner in each country.
“National operators as strategic partners”
To achieve a global implementation of the service, Starlink has signed collaboration agreements with several mobile operators (MNOs) in different countries.
The aim is to use the licensed spectrum already held by these operators, facilitating regulation and compatibility with existing devices.
In the United States, the alliance with T-Mobile was finalized under the brand “T-Satellite”.
The agreement includes the use of the PCS (Personal Communications Service) spectrum to provide coverage in rural and hard-to-reach areas covering more than 800,000 square kilometres.
T-Mobile will offer access to DTC service to customers on premium plans or by paying a monthly add-on of approximately $10.
Initial tests have shown compatibility with apps like WhatsApp (in text and voice), AllTrails, and basic navigation tools.
In Canada, operator Rogers Communications announced a similar partnership with Starlink to connect remote areas in the north of the country.
In Australia, Optus will integrate the service into underserved areas of the continent’s outback. Japan, through KDDI, and New Zealand, through One New Zealand, also confirmed their participation in this phase of global deployment. In Europe, the Swiss operator Salt has already started pilot tests.
This mixed implementation model, with Starlink as a satellite infrastructure provider and national mobile operators as spectrum managers, responds to the regulatory requirements of most countries, where the use of radio spectrum is tightly controlled.
According to ITU, regulatory frameworks for non-terrestrial mobile services (NTNs) require specific agreements that prevent interference and ensure the security of communications.
This scheme also allows for more efficient management of interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks, facilitating hybrid roaming and service portability.
However, it poses challenges in terms of governance: who controls a global network that operates from space, but uses national resources?
“Impact on competition and new players in the market”
Starlink’s entry into the mobile sector structurally alters the competitive balance. Incumbents such as AT&T and Verizon have reacted with initiatives of their own, including partnerships with satellite projects such as AST SpaceMobile or Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
AST SpaceMobile, for example, is looking to deploy satellites with antennas large enough to connect directly to conventional mobile phones, in direct competition with Starlink.
Amazon, meanwhile, plans to launch a constellation of more than 3,000 LEO satellites to offer similar services, though its initial focus is more broadband-oriented.
This new scenario makes orbital infrastructure a strategic asset, and proposes a transition of mobile networks from a national concession model to a hybrid one where operators also compete in space.
The most immediate consequence is the possibility of offering satellite backup services in mobile plans, or even global roaming packages without the need for a terrestrial connection.
According to analyst Tim Farrar, a satellite telecommunications consultant, “competition in space will reduce costs and generate new mobile services, especially in sectors such as transportation, logistics, adventure tourism and emergency management.”
In addition, this evolution implies pressure on the prices and profitability margins of traditional operators, forcing them to redesign their commercial offer and invest in technologies that were not previously central to their strategy.
“Compatible phone models and technological evolution”
Initial support for Starlink’s DTC service will cover some of the most popular models on the market. Among the devices advertised as compatible are:
- Apple: iPhone 14, 15, 16 and 17 (all versions)
- Samsung: Galaxy A14 to A54, Galaxy S21 to S25, Z Flip 3 to Z Flip 7
- Google: Pixel 9 and Pixel 10
- Motorola: Razr 2024, Razr Plus 2024, Moto Edge 2024, Moto G Power 5G 2024
These models integrate LTE chips that operate in the frequency bands enabled by agreements with mobile operators.
They do not require hardware modifications, although some may receive software updates to optimize the satellite link.
The expansion of compatibility to other devices will depend on new agreements with manufacturers and the evolution of the 3GPP standard for non-terrestrial mobile networks, whose Release 17 version includes specifications for NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) services. This standard, promoted by the international consortium 3GPP, will be key to establishing common technical criteria that allow global interoperability.
In conclusion
The integration of direct satellite connectivity into ordinary mobile phones represents one of the most significant changes in the history of telecommunications. Starlink’s DTC system turns existing devices into nodes in a global network that no longer relies exclusively on terrestrial infrastructure. While technical and regulatory challenges remain, the breakthrough promises to reduce digital inequalities, expand coverage and reshape the mobile sector’s competitive map. From October 2025, space is no longer just an environment for observation or navigation: it becomes an active part of connected everyday life.
References:
- Castells, M. (2006). The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture. Alianza Editorial.
- ITU (2024). Spectrum management for non-terrestrial networks. International Telecommunication Union.
- Mindell, D. (2015). Our Robots, Ourselves: Robotics and the Myths of Autonomy. Viking.
- Farrar, T. (2025). Satellite Telecom Market Projections, TMF Associates.
- SpaceX. (2025). Starlink Direct to Cell Official Documentation.
- 3GPP. (2022-2024). Release 17 – Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
