DIGIVESTASI - The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted permission to Elon Musk's SpaceX and telecom operator T-Mobile to activate Starlink's direct-to-cell service. With this permission, Starlink's internet service can connect directly to cell phones in areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

The FCC granted this temporary license to deal with disaster emergencies, to restore connectivity in the affected areas, as the internet network was crippled by the storm. In addition to helping people stay connected, the temporary license also serves as a test for Starlink's direct-to-cell capabilities.

A spokesperson for the FCC revealed that it is committed to supporting recovery in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. “We are prepared to make every effort to restore connectivity in affected areas and save lives,” he said, as reported by Reuters on Monday (7/10/2024).

SpaceX stated that the Starlink direct-to-cell satellite has been activated and is being used to send emergency alerts to cell phones on various networks in North Carolina. “We will be testing SMS capabilities on nearly all cell phones using the T-Mobile network in North Carolina,” a SpaceX representative said.

On September 28, 2024, more than 78% of the cell towers in North Carolina were out of service due to Hurricane Helene. However, on Sunday (6/10), the FCC announced that the figure had dropped to 17% thanks to network restoration efforts.

“While SpaceX's direct-to-cell satellite constellation is not yet fully operational, we believe that initial testing on the ground will aid in the restoration of infrastructure and services. It will also support rescue teams on the ground,” said a T-Mobile representative.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr emphasized that the main focus of using direct-to-cell Starlink is to spread emergency alerts. “Keep in mind that expectations should be realistic. Starlink does not currently have a full constellation of direct-to-cell services. However, they are trying to help in emergencies in affected areas,” he said.

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