Written by Kelly Hill
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Newly launched Starlink satellites will support reciprocal access services with MNOs
On Tuesday evening, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with 21 Starlink satellites in tow.
Those satellites included the first six Starlink satellites with direct-to-cellular capabilities, essentially acting as cell towers in space and enhancing terrestrial cellular networks with the ability for regular cellular devices to access satellite-based texting, calling and mobile data, according to SpaceX.
Starlink has been lining up mobile network operator partners for reciprocal access that include T-Mobile US, Rogers in Canada, Japan’s KDDI, Optus in Australia and One NZ in New Zealand, as well as Salt in Switzerland and Entel in Chile and Peru.
