British telecom BT could equip Starlink satellite internet in mobile services

British telecom service provider BT is currently in discussion with SpaceX to equip Starlink satellite internet to improve mobile and broadband connectivity.

TheTelegraph reported that BT is testing Starlink equipment at its Adastral Park research center near Ipswich and ways to provide connectivity in remote areas.

Starlink operates over 5,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit and the company continuously expands its satellite constellation with new rocket launches every single week.

Amid this new input, the discussion has not been finalized and there is no formal agreement signed between the two parties.

On the other hand, SpaceX recently announced the test of its new Direct to Mobile service with mobile operators around the globe.

The service will allow mobile service providers to launch satellite services to smartphones without requiring the consumer to add any additional hardware or mobile application.

Initially, SpaceX will launch text services through 2024, and calling and data services as well as IoT connectivity will be launched in 2025.

Starlink Direct To Cell service is partnered with T-Mobile in the U.S., Rogers in Canada, Optus in Australia, One New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, Salt in Switzerland, and Entel in Chile & Peru.

If BT wants to launch DoC services then it would have to pursue a license from regulator Ofcom.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is already settling satellite terminals in the UK and has around 42,000 customers in the country as of 2023. This is an increase from 13,000 in 2022 based on the data released by Ofcom.

Back in 2021, BT signed a partnership with satellite firm OneWeb to strengthen its connectivity across the UK. There were no further details revealed by these two partners to launch services.

Other than that, the UK’s government is also supporting mobile operators with a 1 billion pound push to cover all of the rural areas with required connectivity.