The FCC just approved a plan to bring cell phone service to every corner of America

In a landmark decision, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that SpaceX and T-Mobile license to offer satellite based mobile connection directly to smartphones. The two companies are working jointly to eliminate cellular dead zones in the United States by leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. (hour: Reuters)

This development came after an incident provisional approval It was awarded to T-Mobile and SpaceX in October, allowing them to deliver satellite-based capabilities to affected areas in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The tentative approval provided a preview of what’s to come with expanded satellite coverage.

T-Mobile will now be able to leverage SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to provide cellular service directly to smartphones, rather than relying on traditional cell towers. This marks a significant shift in the FCC’s approach to wireless communications; because it is the first time a satellite operator has been allowed to work with a wireless carrier in this way, using certain spectrum bands originally intended for ground-based networks.

The move is expected to have a significant impact on coverage of rural and isolated areas; T-Mobile noted that more than 500,000 square miles of U.S. land is currently inaccessible to traditional networks due to terrain and other limitations. SpaceX’s direct-to-cell technology aims to fill this gap, providing coverage where it is otherwise unavailable.

But not everyone agrees with this plan. AT&T and Verizon previously concerns expressed That SpaceX’s satellite technology could interfere with existing networks, particularly the recommended power levels for satellite transmissions.

Despite these objections, the FCC greenlighted the SpaceX and T-Mobile partnership, highlighting the critical need to expand mobile coverage to underserved areas. FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the agency’s commitment to promoting innovation and competition in the space industry and noted that by supporting such collaborations, the FCC is working towards a future where mobile dead zones are a thing of the past.