Starlink and Telekom to launch cooperation before the end of 2023

If tech visionaries like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have their way, the future belongs to satellite Internet. After all, it makes it possible to use the Internet even in remote regions. Apparently, the first mobile communications providers are now also taking a stand and focusing on cooperation with the companies behind the World Wide Web. Telekom is one of them. Now a first test phase begins in which Starlink tries to establish compatibility.

Telekom wants mobile communications via Starlink

The future of the domestic Internet belongs to fiber optics. Accordingly, Telekom is currently focusing massively on the expansion of fast cable connections throughout Germany. But when it comes to mobile communications, the German provider apparently wants to make an exciting change in strategy. As already announced last year, the company wants to join forces with Starlink in the future. Telekom’s devices are to be made compatible with the satellites of the satellite Internet developed by SpaceX. The satellite Internet is now to be converted as part of a test phase. The aim is to also be able to be used as part of mobile communications services such as Telekom.

Test phase to start before the end of 2023

Starlink is also apparently pleased about the cooperation. After all, Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink and commercial sales, proudly announced during a panel discussion that they would like to start the test phase of a compatibility with mobile communications this year. This could allow SpaceX to make the leap into the mass market with Starlink. So far, satellite Internet has proven to be extremely useful in exceptional situations. For example, Starlink provided Ukraine with satellite Internet right after the start of the still ongoing Ukraine war. Satellite Internet also proved exceedingly useful during the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley. So satellite Internet could quite rightly be called “crisis-proven.” In particular, the rather average German mobile network could definitely do with a bit more stability, which means that both sides should benefit from cooperation.

Mobile coverage in Germany is still extremely unstable, especially in rural areas. Hofeller did not announce during his appearance that Starlink would now cooperate with Telekom. Rather, he kept the cooperation very general. However, it has been known since last year that both parties will start their cooperation in 2023. German users will certainly have to wait a while before they receive the Telekom signal via Starlink satellite. After all, they want to start the test in the U.S. first. Remote regions of the United States in particular should then be able to benefit from better network coverage. T-Mobile, the U.S. offshoot of Telekom, promised Starlink that “almost complete coverage” of the U.S. could be achieved. We are curious to see how long the test run will last and when Starlink and Telekom will then work together as standard.