Starlink, the satellite communications company owned by SpaceX, has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to offer direct-to-cell services in specific parts of the United States. According to Reuters, the FCC granted Starlink and T-Mobile permission to provide direct-to-cell coverage in areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. This special approval is likely a response to the natural disaster, as local telecom infrastructure in North Carolina is expected to suffer damage due to the hurricane.
Starlink has stated that its satellites are already active and broadcasting emergency alerts to cell phones on all networks within the state. As of September 28, over 74% of cell towers in North Carolina were down or impacted by the damage caused by Helene.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell service allows satellite signals to connect directly to users’ mobile phones. The company has been deploying these specialized satellites with the help of SpaceX for some time.
“While SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation is not yet fully deployed, we believed that even this early test version could offer critical support as teams work to restore infrastructure and services, helping first responders in rescue efforts,” T-Mobile said in a statement.
T-Mobile also reported that its networks in the affected regions are mostly recovered, with fewer than 1% of network sites still down. However, Starlink’s full constellation of direct-to-cell satellites is not yet fully operational, but the assistance the company can provide will make a significant difference in supporting people in the hurricane-affected areas of North Carolina.
