Elon Musk's promise raises many questions. Starlink, famous for its satellite internet services, now aims to guarantee free emergency calls for everyone.
This is not just a simple PR exercise. The SpaceX billionaire intends to offer this service on a global scale, but under certain legal conditions.
Starlink, with its "Direct-to-cell" project, would enable users to make emergency calls in areas without cellular network coverage. This initiative could save lives in service dead zones. The first step involves sending text messages via Starlink as early as this year. Voice calls and data exchange are expected to follow by 2025. This technology works through low-Earth orbit satellites.
However, this service is dependent on the approval of national regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. Some telecommunications companies, such as Verizon and AT&T, are opposed to the project. These telecom giants fear interference with their terrestrial networks. SpaceX, however, has submitted counterarguments, claiming that the "Direct-to-cell" service would not cause significant disruptions.
Meanwhile, companies like Apple and Google are already offering similar satellite-based emergency call services, though with geographic and technological limitations.
If FCC approval is granted, this feature could benefit users worldwide, offering universal emergency call coverage without a prior subscription.
Elon Musk's announcement on X: "After careful consideration, SpaceX Starlink will provide free access to emergency services for mobile phones of people in distress. This measure applies worldwide, subject to government approvals of each country. There cannot be a situation where someone dies because they forgot or couldn’t afford to pay."
What is the Starlink Direct-to-cell service?
The Starlink Direct-to-cell service is a technology developed by SpaceX to enable mobile connectivity through satellites. Unlike traditional networks, which rely on terrestrial antennas, this technology uses a network of low-Earth orbit satellites to offer 4G coverage everywhere on the planet.
The main goal of this service is to eliminate "dead zones," those regions without cellular coverage. Users will be able to make calls, send texts, and access mobile data where terrestrial networks don’t reach. The service will also include a free emergency call feature, accessible even without a subscription, for anyone in distress.
Starlink Direct-to-cell relies on satellites capable of directly communicating with standard 4G smartphones. The project aims for a phased rollout, with messaging capabilities starting in 2024, followed by voice calls and internet connectivity in 2025, pending regulatory approval in each country.
How do low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites work?
Low-Earth orbit satellites, or LEO satellites, orbit at an altitude between 125 and 1,250 miles (200 to 2,000 km) above the Earth. They move rapidly and complete several revolutions around the planet each day.
These satellites are used for fast and reliable communications, such as with Starlink. By being closer to Earth than geostationary satellites, they offer lower latency (the delay in data transmission), making them ideal for providing real-time internet and communications services.
A network of LEO satellites, like Starlink’s, forms a "constellation." These constellations cover the entire Earth's surface, ensuring a continuous connection even in the most remote areas.