The Italian operator Fastweb and Starlink, a company of Elon MuskThey announced an agreement to connect cell phones directly to satellites in areas of Italy without network coverage. The first tests are taking place in a region of the Apennines.
The technology, called Direct-to-CellThis allows 4G and 5G smartphones to communicate directly with Starlink's low-Earth orbit satellites, which act as antennas in space at an altitude of 360 kilometers.
How works
According to the companies, the cell phone will automatically switch to satellite connection when it loses signal from the traditional network. The switch happens seamlessly and without any manual action from the user.
The system uses the joint network of Fastweb and the Vodafone In Italy. However, there is one important limitation: the connection requires a direct line of sight to the sky, meaning it only works in open environments.
No release date
The companies have not announced a date for when the service will be available to the public. On the official page presenting the new feature, the companies state that "this is a highly innovative service, currently in the experimental phase."
The testing phase, for now, is "reserved for professionals in the sector." For those living in rural or mountainous areas of Italy, regions where mobile coverage often fails, the technology promises to solve a long-standing connectivity problem.
What is Direct-to-Cell?
It's a technology that transforms satellites into cell phone antennas in space. Unlike traditional Starlink internet, which requires an antenna installed at home, Direct-to-Cell connects a regular smartphone directly to the satellite, without extra equipment. This feature serves as a complement to the operators' network in locations where terrestrial signal doesn't reach.
(Based on information from the Italian press)
