Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
- T-Mobile rejected the idea of sharing its network with Starlink
- The company’s CEO argued that satellite is a “bad” technology than the one T-Mobile currently uses
- Verizon and AT&T have also shut down Starlink
For all its lofty ambitions, Starlink Mobile doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere fast. SpaceX recently announced plans to build “the world’s most advanced mobile network” with its Starlink satellites, but satellites alone won’t cut it — the service also needs ground-based infrastructure and enough spectrum to support it, neither of which Starlink really has.
So his initial plan seems to be launching an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) by partnering with T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T and gaining access to their infrastructure.
However, all three of these names have rejected SpaceX’s proposal, with T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan recently going so far as to say in an earnings call (via WCCFTech) that “Satellite is a poor version of FWA with even more limitations in terms of beam size.
Latest Videos FromTechRadar
No need for satellites
FWA, or fixed wireless access, is what carriers often use to bring broadband to homes and other static locations in rural areas, combining a router with a 5G or 4G signal, instead of using fiber optic cables.
FWA also exists in urban areas, but it is particularly useful where conventional broadband is struggling. So, in essence, Gopalan argues that satellite connectivity is a worse option, even in many rural and hard-to-reach areas, such as FWA.
In addition, Gopalan claims that “two-thirds of our FWA customers come from dense urban areas. We still see huge growth opportunities in those areas, all under the fallow capacity model. So we don’t really see a synergistic opportunity with satellite providers.”
All of this could be a big problem for SpaceX, as it is likely that the company will have to rely mainly on its satellites for the time being. Although with its plans to launch 15,000 new satellites, lease 80,000 cell tower sites, and possibly install cellular base stations on existing Starlink dishes, it could still deliver a viable mobile network — and a threat to the big three — eventually.
Follow TechRadar on Google News in the add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinion in your feeds. Make sure you click the follow button!
And of course you can too Follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and receive regular updates from us WhatsApp as well.