Deutsche Telekom and Starlink (SpaceX) announced a strategic partnership to launch a Direct-to-Device satellite communications service in Europe.
Key details of the deal:
Launch at 2028 year: The service will be available for subscribers in 10 European countries, including Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary.
Technology V2: This will be the first use of second-generation Starlink satellites in Europe (V2) for mobile communication, which will allow data transfer at 5G speed (to 150 Mbps).
Direct connection: Users will be able to connect to satellites directly from their regular smartphones without additional equipment.
Covering "white spots": The service is intended for hard-to-reach regions, where it is not possible to install traditional communication towers due to difficult terrain or environmental restrictions.
Services: Text messages will be available first, and later voice and video streaming.
The move is part of SpaceX's global strategy after successfully launching a similar service with T-Mobile in the US.
Source: https://spacenews.com