AT&T attempts to prevent T-Mobile from using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to supplement its mobile service. Last month, the Federal Communications Commission requested public input on T-Mobile’s SpaceX proposal. On Thursday, AT&T and its associates filed a complaint urging the agency to intervene, arguing that the proposal might endanger or restrict their wireless and mobile broadband offerings.
AT&T holds spectrum rights next to the range SpaceX intends to use for its project. SpaceX would have to alter its license for its network of orbiting satellites, enabling the transmission and reception of signals to and from mobile devices. The PCS G-Block of signal bands, which falls between the 1.9GHz and 2GHz range, would be utilised by SpaceX, as reported earlier on Friday by Ars Technica.
SpaceX has asked for permission to use this spectrum range, but AT&T opposes the idea, stating that SpaceX hasn’t adequately demonstrated preventing interference with other networks. According to AT&T’s filed document, SpaceX’s technical evidence is insufficient regarding the potential harm caused by their additional coverage from space deployments.
While SpaceX and T-Mobile haven’t announced a successful phone call from space to prove the absence of interference in their plan, AT&T has confirmed that it has already accomplished a visitation from the surface through a hole with its satellite partner, AST SpaceMobile.
AT&T has not indicated when its customers can use the satellite partnership with AST to enhance their regular 5G service. The association can utilise AST’s longstanding experience in satellite communication, whereas calls on SpaceX’s microsatellite network require approval before they can be utilised. Verizon has also announced its intention to expand its mobile network using Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites, although none have been launched into orbit yet.
In the interim, the sole satellite-to-cell system readily accessible has been Apple’s Emergency SOS feature exclusive to the newest iPhone 14 models. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite service is slated to launch later this year for smartphones utilising the most recent Snapdragon processors.
There was no immediate response from AT&T or T-Mobile to a request for comment.
