Wedoany.com Report on Mar 3rd, At the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, SpaceX executives unveiled their Starlink Mobile V2 satellite plan, aimed at providing more comprehensive cellular coverage for mobile phone users worldwide. Deutsche Telekom has signed on as the first European operator to launch this technology.
In a keynote address, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell and Starlink Senior Vice President Mike Nichols stated that the Starlink Mobile V2 satellites will support text, data, voice, and video services, with an expected launch in mid-2027. Nichols noted, "The goal of Starlink Mobile is to connect to regular, unmodified phones around the world." This plan builds on the successful deployment of the first generation of 650 satellites, which are already operational across five continents.
The second-generation Starlink Mobile V2 satellites will use S-band spectrum purchased from EchoStar and offer international coverage. SpaceX stated that these satellites utilize custom silicon and phased array antennas, supporting thousands of spatial beams and providing approximately 20 times the throughput capacity of the first generation. Nichols emphasized, "It should look and feel like you're connected to a high-performance 5G terrestrial network." This aims to address coverage gaps in terrestrial networks, particularly in the 20% of US land area and 90% of global areas currently unserved.
Following the presentation, Deutsche Telekom announced it had agreed to become the "first" European operator to launch Starlink V2 technology, aiming to improve customer connectivity in areas with complex terrain. SpaceX also called on global mobile operators to adopt Starlink Mobile V2 to complement terrestrial networks and reduce investment in remote areas.
Additionally, Shotwell mentioned Starlink's service in Ukraine, including a partnership with Kyivstar to provide satellite-to-phone connectivity, which already has approximately 3 million customer subscriptions. SpaceX demonstrated its technical capabilities via a video showing a video call made in a signal dead zone in California. Starlink Vice President of Business Operations Chad Gibbs IV stated, "I think we can trust that it's working; we built it." This highlights the potential of Starlink Mobile V2 satellites to enhance global communication coverage.
