Some time ago, a major satellite network service war broke out between the leading US mobile communications companies AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. First, T-Mobile experimented with using SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites, while AT&T and Verizon got involved by investing in a satellite internet company called AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile recently announced that it will launch its first commercial satellite constellation. And recently, T-Mobile and Starlink announced the successful completion of an Emergency Alert test.
T-Mobile and Starlink transmit emergency alert in seconds
In recent months, T-Mobile and Starlink announced the first successful use of cellular internet via satellite. In the latest test, Starlink sent a test Emergency Alert to all T-Mobile users. The test was conducted in response to damage to base stations on the ground in any case. As a result of the test conducted by the companies, the emergency alert is transmitted to the phones within seconds.
Regarding the emergency alert test on September 5, T-Mobile said, “The alert was sent 217 miles into space, where it was received by one of more than 175 Starlink direct, smartphone satellites currently in low Earth orbit, which act as base stations in space. In total, it took just a few seconds for emergency operators to queue up an emergency message and relay it to users on the ground via Starlink satellites, he explains. One of the reasons for using satellites as base stations is to provide signals via Starlink satellites to areas where T-Mobile cannot provide service, where there is no base station. Thus, there will be no region where the company cannot bring signal service.
Starlink competitor AST SpaceMobile has publicly announced the date when it will launch its first commercial satellites.
As a result of tests conducted with T-Mobile and Starlink in recent months, the satellites were able to offer 17 MPBS download speeds to smartphones from Samsung, Apple and Google. With this speed, the companies were able to make video calls. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, to which Starlink is affiliated, explains in a statement to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and the public that satellites can alert any phone free of charge in emergencies, regardless of the operator. In addition, Starlink’s communication service will be exclusive to T-Mobile for the first year. After the first year, it will be open to other operators.
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