What's the Story? T-Mobile and SpaceX play the long game on direct-to-cell service

Light Reading editors discuss why it could take a while before service providers start seeing meaningful revenue from direct-to-cell satellite services, if ever.

At a Glance

  • T-Mobile and SpaceX team up on direct-to-cell service (01:31)
  • Other direct-to-cell satellite services from competitors (07:54)
  • Will customers be willing to pay more for direct-to-cell satellite connectivity? (11:17)

Light Reading's Mike Dano joins the podcast with an update on the partnership between SpaceX and T-Mobile to launch satellites capable of direct-to-cell service. We discuss what this means for customers as well as T-Mobile's competitors. We also look at why it could take a while before service providers start seeing meaningful revenue from direct-to-cell satellite services, if ever. 

For a lightly edited transcript, please click the caption button in the video toolbar. 

Here are a few topics we cover:

  • T-Mobile and SpaceX team up on direct-to-cell service (01:31)

  • How the direct-to-cell satellite service could impact T-Mobile's customers (03:59)

  • Other direct-to-cell satellite services from competitors (07:54)

  • Will customers be willing to pay more for direct-to-cell satellite connectivity? (11:17)

  • Kelsey wishes she knew how to fly a helicopter so she could rescue Mike from mountaintops (13:14)

  • Has anyone tried a Bullitt phone? (14:26)

  • Satellite connectivity could keep you from ending up on an episode of Dateline (15:33)

About the Author(s)

Kelsey Ziser

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Kelsey is a senior editor at Light Reading, co-host of the Light Reading podcast, and host of the "What's the story?" podcast.

Her interest in the telecom world started with a PR position at Connect2 Communications, which led to a communications role at the FREEDM Systems Center, a smart grid research lab at N.C. State University. There, she orchestrated their webinar program across college campuses and covered research projects such as the center's smart solid-state transformer.

Kelsey enjoys reading four (or 12) books at once, watching movies about space travel, crafting and (hoarding) houseplants.

Kelsey is based in Raleigh, N.C.

Mike Dano

Editorial Director, 5G & Mobile Strategies, Light Reading

Mike Dano is Light Reading's Editorial Director, 5G & Mobile Strategies. Mike can be reached at [email protected], @mikeddano or on LinkedIn.

Based in Denver, Mike has covered the wireless industry as a journalist for almost two decades, first at RCR Wireless News and then at FierceWireless and recalls once writing a story about the transition from black and white to color screens on cell phones.

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