A European alternative to Starlink is in the works


Viasat will help develop a European satellite communications service. — Photography Courtesy of Viasat/AFP Relaxnews

The European Space Agency is preparing to roll out an alternative to Starlink in the field of satellite telephone communications. The idea is to be able to communicate with your smartphone wherever you are, even in the most remote areas not usually covered by operators.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the American company Viasat have signed an agreement to jointly develop a direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity system. The aim of the project is to provide mobile broadband connectivity anywhere, including "dead zones," at any time, without the need for traditional terrestrial infrastructure.

A constellation of dedicated satellites will enable smartphones to connect directly to the network, ensuring uninterrupted coverage even in previously inaccessible areas. In theory, these satellites placed in geostationary orbit (GEO) and low earth orbit (LEO) will be able to connect directly to smartphones, but also to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ESA and Viasat have already worked together in the past, notably on the amelioration of air traffic communications.

This partnership adds to European efforts to strengthen its digital sovereignty, because on paper, this project is an alternative to Starlink. The American startup has set itself the challenge of being able to take advantage of a satellite internet connection directly from a smartphone anywhere. Today, part of the company's satellite fleet is dedicated to a service called "Direct To Cell,” first enabling text messages followed by voice calls. The unique feature of this new generation of satellites is that they can connect directly to smartphones on Earth, in the same way as traditional base stations, except that in this case they orbit at an altitude of almost 550 km.

Back in 2022, Apple was the first to offer an emergency call function via satellite, exclusively in white zones such as the open sea, mountains or deserts. Today, this feature is only available on the latest iPhones. The latest version of Android also supports this type of service. – AFP Relaxnews

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