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The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a license for SpaceX to launch direct to cell services via its Starlink satellite constellation, bringing local partner One NZ closer to launching services in New Zealand.
The US regulator found it was in the public interest to authorise SpaceX to provide satellite communications services in the US and to provide direct-to-cell operations outside the US with all of its 7500 Gen2 Starlink satellites.
The commission recognised that satellite-to-device connectivity could support critical public interest benefits, including ubiquitous connectivity, access to 911 service from remote areas, technological advancement and innovative spectrum use among other benefits.
One NZ head of sustainability and corporate affairs Nicky Preston said the licensing gets One NZ a step closer to launching a satellite text service.
“We’re delighted that our partner SpaceX has received US regulatory clearance to launch its Starlink direct-to-cell service,” Preston said.
“This opens the door for our satellite to mobile service in Aotearoa once field testing is complete.”
Preston said One NZ was seeing week-over-week improvement in testing as it fine tuned the experience and with the Starlink direct-to-cell constellation now having over 300 satellites and growing.
“We’re aiming to launch the One NZ satellite text service shortly, which will enable our customers to send and receive texts on eligible plans and devices within a matter of minutes.”
Starlink recently joined most other telcos paying the Telecommunications Development Levy after breaking through the $10 million revenue liability threshhold of the scheme with its satellite broadband service.
Rob O’Neill recently went to the US to see a SpaceX launch as a guest of One NZ.