The era when smartphones connect to satellite internet is here! What future does the service that Starlink will launch in the summer of 2025 bring?

Starlink "Direct to Cell" Set for Deployment: The Full Picture of the Satellite Mobile Revolution to Eliminate "No Signal"

1. Introduction: Look Up to the Sky, and the Antenna is There

"Areas unreachable by carrier base stations will disappear from the world" — On June 21, 2025, the Brazilian newspaper Minha Operadora described Starlink's new service, which connects existing LTE smartphones directly to satellites, as the "Zero Mobile Dead Zone Plan."minhaoperadora.com.br
This article will cover the technology and social impact, allowing you to experience the excitement and skepticism intersecting on social media.

2. Service Overview: Starting with SMS, Eventually Full 4G/5G

U.S. T-Mobile, under the name "T-Satellite with Starlink," will begin beta testing in North America in July. The first phase will focus on text messaging (SMS/RCS/iMessage), with plans to gradually expand to photo sharing, voice calls, and high-speed data transmission, as stated in the official FAQ.t-mobile.com
Subscribers will not need additional hardware. As long as the sky is visible, smartphones can connect to "space cellular" on their own.

3. Compatible Devices: iPhone 14 and Later, Galaxy A14 and Later, Pixel 9, and More

The compatibility list released by Starlink includes over 60 models from Samsung, Motorola, Apple, and Google. The claim that "SMS will work even on old mid-range devices, so no need to upgrade" was particularly welcomed by rural communities in Brazil.minhaoperadora.com.br
On the other hand, Reddit users have pointed out that "due to low bandwidth, iPhone 14 and earlier models are limited to SOS messages."reddit.com

4. Technical Foundation: How Satellites Become "Flying eNBs"

Traditional Starlink used Ku-band 10.7–12.7 GHz/Ka-band 17.8–30 GHz for stationary antenna satellite broadband. Direct to Cell, on the other hand, equips satellites with "low-frequency for mobile" such as 4G LTE Band 71 (700 MHz), achieving L1 layer compatibility with ground terminals.
The FCC conditionally approved high output of up to 8 MW EIRP in March 2025. This theoretically enables throughput of about 3 Mbps between satellites and terminals.reuters.com
Nextbigfuture analyzes that "development towards 5G NR is also in view," but due to constraints like power and antenna size, it is expected to remain at 4G equivalent speeds of several hundred kbps for the time being.nextbigfuture.com

5. Regulatory and Industry Tug-of-War: AT&T, Verizon vs. SpaceX

At the FCC public hearing, competing carriers opposed the initiative citing "spectrum pollution" and "interference risks." However, SpaceX pushed through by advocating that "spectrum is a shared asset" and emphasizing public safety (mountain and maritime rescue). The FCC reached an agreement by imposing conditions to "promptly reduce power or cease operation" in case of interference.reuters.com
AST SpaceMobile, Apple (Emergency SOS), and Amazon Kuiper have also announced their entry into the satellite direct cellular business, with Barron’s describing it as a "race for a market exceeding $30 billion."barrons.com

6. Use Cases: Transforming Disaster Response, Remote Areas, Logistics, and Tourism

• Disaster Prevention: During the Caribbean hurricane in 2024, test satellites deployed in orbit provided free SMS access to affected areas. Elon Musk posted that the rollout was accelerated to prioritize relief, capturing public attention.twitter.com

• Agricultural IoT: Soybean farmers in Mato Grosso, Brazil, reportedly reduced costs by 40% by switching data collection from scattered sensors from ground LPWAN to direct satellite transmission.

• Tourism: Luxury resorts in Patagonia and the Amazon increased bookings by 18% by offering "satellite Wi-Fi in all rooms."

7. Impact on the Latin American Economy

Starlink is working with the Brazilian Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) on frequency coordination, aiming to acquire 6 million lines in the region by the end of 2025. Once voice and data support is established, it is likely to disrupt the "three-carrier oligopoly," potentially reigniting price competition reminiscent of the MVNO proliferation period.
SatelliteToday reported that "T-Mobile's price reduction to $5 per month in the U.S. sets the price expectation for the Latin market."satellitetoday.com

8. Enthusiasm and Skepticism Swirling on Social Media

The hashtag #DirectToCell reached an average of 61,000 mentions per day on X, with the initial #5GiNoSatélite? (meaning "Is 5G satellite?" in Portuguese) trending at number one in Brazil.

However, the optimistic view that "100 Mbps will be available soon" spread on X is a misunderstanding, with actual measurements showing 50–500 kbps as the majority. The next section will detail the technical limitations.

9. Benchmark Testing: The Reality of Speed and Latency

The individual beta tester measurements conducted at Zion National Park, Utah, using T-Mobile provided eSIM, are as follows.

SMS and messaging worked without issues, but image attachments of around 50 KB experienced delays of over 10 seconds. Web browsing frequently timed out, making it impractical. A beta tester posted, "Sufficient for disaster emergencies. Can't beat fiber optics or ground 5G for entertainment purposes."reddit.com

10. Competitive Landscape and Differentiation Points

• AST SpaceMobile: 288 BlueWalker satellites to deliver 5G NR directly to terminals. Partnership with Verizon/AT&T. Early commercialization in 2026.

• Apple: iPhone 15 Emergency SOS to become two-way messaging with iOS 18 (Globalstar network).

• Amazon Kuiper: User terminals require dedicated antennas. Business-oriented launch from late 2025.
  Starlink's advantage lies in "utilizing existing sub-1 GHz bands with existing SIMs."

11. Future Challenges

• Device Power Consumption: When using satellite links, transmission power increases, reducing battery life by 15% according to reports.

• Spectrum Harmonization: Coordination of different 700 MHz allocations across countries is necessary.

• Business Model: Profitability in low ARPU markets. The extent of free service allowance is a focal point.

12. Conclusion: From "Last Mile" to "Last 2000 Kilometers"

Starlink Direct to Cell redefined the concept of "no signal" by overlaying space infrastructure on the periphery of ground infrastructure. It presents the value of "reliable delivery" over speed, opening an era where satellites complement the public utility role traditionally held by mobile communications.
However, challenges remain in speed, latency, power, and regulation, and the satellite cellular competition has just begun. The next phase of development will be when "connectivity everywhere" transforms into "high-speed anytime" — whether that is in five or ten years, the network of lights in the sky will provide the answer.