To benefit from the Starlink satellite internet network, you will need to equip yourself with an antenna that you can mount directly on the roof of your home or in your garden. This solution costs €450 (excluding installation costs) and also requires a monthly subscription of €40 per month. Even though it has been possible to rent the devices since March 2023, this Internet access solution remains significantly more expensive than conventional ISPs.
Good news: Starlink is developing a new technology to make internet access easier: Direct to Cell. Announced last October, its goal is to bring 4G satellite internet directly to our smartphones without having to install antennas at home.
At the beginning of 2024, the implementation of the project began with the deployment of six of the 21 new Starlink satellites dedicated to this new service. SpaceX shares images of these machines said on Twitter/X this Wednesday, January 3: “The six Starlink satellites of this mission, equipped with direct-to-cell technology, will strengthen global connectivity and help eliminate white zones.”
With Direct to Cell you won't be able to enjoy satellite internet on your smartphone in the near future. In fact, the medium The Verge explains that SpaceX will now conduct tests of 4G LTE connectivity with the operator T-Mobile in the USA. After this step, SMS messages can be sent via this service in several countries in 2024. Audio calls and mobile data will follow in 2025.
Small problem for France, currently no French operator appears in the list of partners on the website dedicated to Starlink's direct-to-cell technology. However, there are American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Japanese, Swiss, Chilean and even Peruvian actors.