SpaceX has shared new details on its next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell satellites, which are being designed to take full advantage of the newly acquired wireless spectrum from EchoStar. The company says the second-generation constellation will deliver a massive performance leap over the first-generation system, which was fully deployed earlier this year.
According to SpaceX, the upgraded satellites will be “driven by custom SpaceX-designed silicon and phased array antennas” capable of supporting thousands of spatial beams and dramatically higher bandwidth. “The satellites will support thousands of spatial beams and higher bandwidth capability, enabling around 20x the throughput capability as compared to a first-generation satellite,” the company explained in its update.
By combining exclusive spectrum access from its deal with EchoStar, optimized 5G protocols for satellite connectivity, and what SpaceX calls the “world’s most advanced phased arrays,” the system will deliver “an overall capacity increase of more than 100x the first generation Starlink Direct to Cell system.” SpaceX says that in most environments, this will allow for full 5G cellular connectivity that rivals terrestrial LTE service, effectively turning cell phones into globally connected devices without the need for special hardware or apps.
The announcement follows the news earlier today that SpaceX is acquiring EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses for $17 billion. While that deal itself is still subject to regulatory approval, SpaceX is already looking ahead to how the additional spectrum will transform Starlink’s Direct to Cell service.
Since launching its first Direct to Cell satellites in January 2024, SpaceX has grown the service into the world’s largest 4G coverage provider, connecting more than six million users across five continents. The service currently supports messaging, data for apps like Google Maps, X, and WhatsApp, and even IoT devices. Emergency response teams and everyday users have already relied on Direct to Cell to stay connected in natural disasters and dead zones.
Much like its third-generation Starlink satellites, SpaceX is banking on Starship’s unprecedented payload capacity to launch second-generation Direct to Cell satellites. With the second-gen satellites, the company promises a “step change in performance” as it works with global carriers such as T-Mobile, Rogers, and KDDI to eliminate mobile dead zones and complement terrestrial cellular networks.
