Starlink, the internet company founded by Elon Musk, has started its direct-to-cell service in five additional countries. This comes after the service was successfully launched with T-Mobile in the United States.
Recent announcements say that big telecom companies in Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and Switzerland are now part of the direct-to-cell service. Specifically, Rogers in Canada, One in New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, Optus in Australia, and Salt in Switzerland have teamed up with Starlink to provide this new service.
Elon Musk confirmed the progress, saying, “Starlink’s updated system allows mobile phones to connect to the internet without needing any extra devices or a special app. It’s simple and works right away.”
This expansion is part of Starlink’s plan to introduce its service worldwide. They are working with local network providers in different countries to set up the service. Recently, the company sent 42 new satellites into space, including 26 that can connect directly to cell phones, to help with this plan.
In January 2023, Nigeria made history by being the first African country to start using Starlink’s satellite internet service. Since then, the company has grown, offering its services in 15 African countries and a total of 105 countries around the world.