SpaceX has announced the launch of a pilot project for Starlink Mobile in Italy. The company has entered into an agreement with the operator Fastweb+Vodafone, allowing owners of standard 4G-enabled smartphones to connect to the satellite network in areas where terrestrial mobile network coverage is unavailable.
The initial testing region will be the Apennine Mountains in central Italy, where rugged terrain and low population density make building traditional communication infrastructure costly and challenging. If the trial proves successful, the service is expected to be extended to other hard-to-reach areas of the country.
Image of Starlink
The key feature of the Direct to Cell technology is that Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit function as mobile base stations. Users will not need to purchase special smartphones, change their SIM cards, or install additional equipment—the switch from the standard network to the satellite network will happen automatically. In the initial phase, messaging services, including SMS and MMS, as well as internet-based services and applications like WhatsApp and Google Maps, will be available.
However, the technology currently does not support standard voice calls, including emergency service calls, over the satellite network. As a result, users in remote areas will still need to rely on terrestrial coverage or specialized satellite phones for voice communication.
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