Image: Starlink
Starlink’s ambitious push into satellite-to-smartphone connectivity is officially heading to the European Union, with Spain set to become the first country in the bloc to launch the company’s Direct to Cell service later this year.
Starlink confirmed the news on X, announcing that Spain will be the first EU market to get Direct to Cell, thanks to a partnership with MasOrange. The satellite-to-mobile service is designed to connect customers in remote or underserved areas where traditional terrestrial coverage simply doesn’t exist. MasOrange echoed the announcement, calling the agreement a “pioneering satellite-mobile connection solution” that reinforces its commitment to innovation.
Direct to Cell allows standard smartphones to connect directly to Starlink satellites without any special hardware, effectively turning space into a cellular tower. According to Starlink, the service has connected over 12 million people across the globe at least once, and more than 6 million users every month actively rely on it for coverage where terrestrial cellular doesn’t exist. Initially, MasOrange’s Starlink offering in Spain is expected to support basic connectivity like texting and emergency communications, with voice and data services planned to follow as the technology matures and regulatory approvals expand.
Spain’s launch marks a major milestone for Starlink in the EU, but it’s far from an isolated move. Starlink already debuted Direct to Cell service in Europe last fall, in partnership with Ukraine’s Kyivstar. The company has also been rapidly lining up global partners to roll out its direct-to-device ambitions. In Southeast Asia, Starlink recently locked in a deal with Globe Telecom to bring satellite-to-phone connectivity to the Philippines within the next few months. Elsewhere, Starlink has announced partnerships with Virgin Media O2 to deploy satellite cellular service across the U.K., and with Airtel Africa to extend coverage across parts of the African continent.
At the same time, SpaceX is laying the groundwork to go even further. Starlink plans to begin testing Direct to Cell independently of traditional telecom operators by using its own wireless spectrum, acquired through a deal with EchoStar. What’s more, recent trademarks for “Starlink Mobile” suggest the company is seriously exploring a standalone satellite cellular service that could one day compete directly with terrestrial carriers.
With Spain leading the charge in the EU, Starlink’s Direct to Cell rollout is starting to feel less like a science experiment and more like the future of mobile connectivity — one where coverage gaps, dead zones, and “no service” screens could eventually become a thing of the past.
