Project starts this year
Startup Sateliot from Spain intends to use SpaceX to launch base stations into orbit, which will provide mobile network coverage in places where it is impossible to build terrestrial systems or it is difficult and expensive. This year it is planned to launch the first of five satellites.
In 2024, the company plans to place 64 satellites in orbit, and in 2025 – 256 satellites. This is enough to enable 5G NB-IoT text messaging. It seems that there is no talk of voice communication yet.
SpaceX will help Spanish startup Sateliot launch space
At the same time, Apple, Verizon, T-Mobile and Qualcomm are already preparing their own versions of satellite communications systems. In some cases, only the transmission of text or danger messages is mentioned, in others – full voice communication.
Sateliot has signed three agreements totaling about $1.1 billion to provide communications services, but it has not yet been revealed who is the partner.
Note that the base stations themselves are quite large, one satellite is enough to provide communication in an area that is three times the size of Texas.
