AT&T warns T-Mobile US, Starlink may disrupt terrestrial cellphones

The race to deliver mobile phone services via satellite may have turned nasty, with AT&T filing a petition with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to block rival T-Mobile US from operating its planned service in partnership with satellite company Starlink. AT&T submitted remarks in a filing [PDF] dated May 18 …

[Rich 2]

Satellite comms over 3/4G

“… and to achieve this using standard phones.”

I’m definitely no radio expert so can someone explain how a “standard” phone signal is going to reach a satellite?

[Kevin McMurtrie]

Re: Satellite comms over 3/4G

Very tight beamforming and big antennas on the satellites is required. Last time I checked it wasn't clear if there was a single beam or if a satellite could track clusters of phones.

The argument about interference is probably BS meant to stall competition. It's not like the sats are beaming down microwave death rays. Everything has to be efficient so return signals from ordinary phones can be heard.

[Pascal Monett]

“SpaceMobile’s point of differentiation is its huge antenna"

Oooh, so we're down to comparing size, eh ?

This is getting nasssttyyyy.

[xyz]

Mmmm...

+>>The latter announced just last month that it had achieved what it claimed as the first ever two-way voice call by satellite connection using unmodified smartphones,

I'm baffled... I can do this by Whatsapp or Skype just now via Starlink with mesh wifi from the middle of nowhere. So, is the presumed use case that I might want to receive SMS or call spam in the middle of nowhere or what? I don't think I've used my 'phone as a pre 21st century phone (i.e. paying for a call, ok, ok Skype costs but not so you'd notice) in years.

[iron]

Re: Mmmm...

> I'm baffled...

Well space is complicated so don't feel inadequate that you can't understand the difference between a satellite phone call and text messaging via the Internet. Or that the former might be useful if you're stuck up a mountain in a blizzard while the later has no useful purpose whatsoever.