At 7:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, August 25 at Starbase, SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon and T-Mobile CEO and President Mike Sievert will provide a public update announcing how T-Mobile and SpaceX will work together to increase connectivity.Does anyone have any insight into this announcement?
Here’s the backdrop for the event with the CEOs of SpaceX and T-Mobile coming up in 40 minutes.
The crowd of what looks like TMobile employees just moved to the front of the stage. #SpaceX #Starlink #TMobile📷: Me for @TLPN_Official#TLPLive #TLPNews #TLPNetwork
T-Mobile/SpaceX alliance is to result in the end of mobile dead zones.
Ask Elon and Mike a question about today's announcement by tweeting #CoverageBeyond
Starlink V2, launching next year, will transmit direct to mobile phones, eliminating dead zones worldwide
Note, connectivity will be 2 to 4 Mbits per cell zone, so will work great for texting & voice calls, but not high bandwidth
Musk said the antennas will be about 25 square meters in area, which would make them significantly smaller than the antenna on AST’s BlueWaker 3 prototype (64 m^2). No data on reflectivity, though.
I received a lot of comments about the satellites not technically being downsized because the letter doesn't say it word by word but today Elon explained these would be "Starlink v2 mini" aka downsized Starlink v2 satellites that can fit on Falcon 9 if Starship is too delayed.
Eric Berger asks about V2 on F9. Elon says too big, but looking at V2 mini for F9 if Starship is delayed more than expected. V2 is very much for Starship.
New Starlink v2 antennas for connection to mobileshttps://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1562962369810010114QuoteMusk said the antennas will be about 25 square meters in area, which would make them significantly smaller than the antenna on AST’s BlueWaker 3 prototype (64 m^2). No data on reflectivity, though.
SpaceX and T-Mobile announcement is a big deal; first time Starlink has been offered as direct-to-cell capability. This will also make the launch of AST Space Mobile's Blue Walker demo satellite on a Falcon 9 later this year a bit spicy.