Elon Musk Plans to Tackle US Mobile Phone Coverage Problem. How?

If Musk's latest project goes off without a hitch, the danger of being lost in the desert or stranded at sea will become a thing of the past. The new service will use Musk's Starlink satellites to provide coverage in every corner of the US.

Sievert described the project as a lot like putting a cell tower in the sky, just a lot harder.

How the companies plan to do it, what it means for mobile users, and what the limitations will be are listed here.

Which is it?

T-Mobile has mid-band spectrum that the two companies want to use for a new mobile network. In the continental US, Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and even territorial waters, customers will be able to sign up for the service.

What will it look like?

The new network will be accessible thanks to the Starlink satellites. Each antenna would measure 25 square meters and be very advanced because they have to pick up a very quiet signal from your cell phone and then be caught by a satellite that's travelling 17,000 miles an hour. The T-Mobile service will be similar to data roaming, where a user's mobile will try to find a service and connect to the satellite if it doesn't. Most phones already have the technology built in, so there will be no need for equipment.

The limitations are what they are.

The service will be limited to text messaging initially. The coverage area will be divided into large cell zones, each with their own internet connection limit. A substitute for ground cell stations would not be provided by the service. It is meant to give basic coverage to areas that are dead. There could be a delay of at least half an hour for messages to pass through the system.

What amount will it cost?

Sievert wanted the service to be bundled for free on T-Mobile's most popular plans, but lower cost plans could be charged a monthly fee.

Will the service be available in other countries?

It is unclear at this time. When people come to the United States and go off the grid into the national parks, they will be connected as well. Americans will be connected when they travel to those countries.

What is the time frame?

After new satellites have been launched, the satellite-to-cellular service will be tested in a few areas, according to the press release. Musk said the first phase would include messaging, but they had not yet spoken to app providers about how to integrate their services

The future holds what?

The companies want to work on voice calls and data. Musk has bigger goals. He said they would love to have T- Mobile on Mars.