T‑Mobile Takes Coverage Above and Beyond With SpaceX ‑ T‑Mobile Newsroom
www.t-mobile.com
In a live event today, T‑Mobile and SpaceX announced Coverage Above and Beyond: a breakthrough new plan to bring cell phone connectivity nearly everywhere.
  • “The vast majority of smartphones already on T-Mobile’s network will be compatible with the new service using the device’s existing radio.”
  • “Text messaging, including SMS, MMS and participating messaging apps, will empower customers to stay connected and share experiences nearly everywhere.”
    • AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml
      2·
      2 years ago

      Slight correction: Beidou, not Baidu. Baidu is a Chinese search engine. Beidou is the Chinese word for the north star, a classic symbol of navigation, which is why they chose that name for their GPS competitor.

    • Arthur Besse@lemmy.mlOP
      1·
      2 years ago

      Yeah, this is interesting, and apparently based on some micro-sat company’s technology that SpaceX bought 1-2 years ago.

      What makes you think that? I guess you’re talking about Swarm Technologies? I don’t think that is what the T-Mobile announcement is about though… it sounds like that network is for extremely low bandwidth sensors etc rather than something as big as MMS and other messaging apps.

      • Helix 🧬@feddit.de
        3·
        2 years ago

        The best company to do this would be owned by the public and provide services in a net neutral way. Both SpaceX and Telekom showed in the past they don’t give a shit about net neutrality or even their customers for that matter.

        • Albert@lemmy.sysctl.io
          1·
          2 years ago

          I’m not sure how SpaceX has shown that they don’t care about NN or customers. I’m not defending SpaceX (I used to work there, I’d never go back), but I’m just curious about your reasons.

  • Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml
    2·
    2 years ago

    The emphasis added in this post seems to speak to the limitation of the technology, because initial support will be for SMS and MMS. Then later on it will support voice and general data which require more bandwith.

    Second, I’m surprised T-Mobile is willing to announce a deal with Elon Musk, given he reneged on the last couple of big deals he’s announced

  • NXL@lemmy.ml
    2·
    2 years ago

    Starlink is another grift by Elon to continue his ponzi practices of pushing some grand future promise to get suckers to invest in his shit instead of investing in public goods. heres a thread on how much of a mess starlink actually is https://twitter.com/rdrimmel/status/1563158073694310401

    governments should be forcing companies to build fiber with all the public funding they’ve been spending on corporate bonuses