Tech Desk 
Jan 01, 2025
Smartphone users, both iPhone and Android, will be able to make calls worldwide by leveraging Starlink technology.
This progressive service uses an expanded network of satellites orbiting Earth to offer connectivity, eliminating the need for proximity to traditional cell towers.
Unlike traditional satellite phones that require extravagant specialised equipment, Starlink’s technology lets users place calls while using their regular handsets, showcasing a major leap forward in global connectivity.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved SpaceX to connect T-Mobile users across the United States (US) living in underserved regions with no cellular activity. Testing has shown greater compatibility with renowned mobile brands including Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Successful trials have shown connectivity in both wide-open outdoor settings and urban indoor regions.
Starlink plans to integrate its innovative services into older smartphones, ensuring accessibility without newer devices, which would be a great service in emergency situations or underprivileged areas.
Conventional satellite services usually depend on a single geostationary satellite situated 35,786 km from Earth, resulting in higher latency, and restricting uninterrupted real-time data sharing. By contrast, Starlink's expanded network of satellites orbits closer to Earth, at almost 550 km, for enhanced global connectivity and efficient streaming on handsets and computers.
Starlink’s technology has found numerous applications in difficult environments, including aiding Ukrainian soldiers with drone functionality during the sustained discord with Russia. However, it has received immense criticism from astronomers.
A few researchers from the Netherlands have recently raised concerns regarding the impact of Starlink's emissions on stargazing, with Professor Jessica Dempsey from ASTRON underscoring that the increasing number of satellites is obstructing views of the cosmos. She stated: “Every time more of these are launched with these kinds of emission levels, we see less and less of the sky."
