T-Mobile’s Starlink is currently the only space-based mobile network in the United States that offers automatic connection to mobile devices in areas devoid of cellular coverage. With approximately 500,000 square miles in the U.S. lacking any cellular signal, Starlink stands out as a crucial option for communication in such remote locations. This scenario opens the door for telecom giants like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and others to explore shared access to space-based telecommunications services.
“It doesn’t make sense for a telecom operator to deploy their own constellation. We are the one, through a kind of federative approach, designing, manufacturing, and operating that neutral space infrastructure. Essentially, a telecom operator will utilize a share of the network capacity that CTO’s constellation represents at any time,” explained CTO CEO Charles Delfieux in February 2025.
CTO aims to deliver its satellite-based telecom solutions directly to carriers | Image credit: CTO
Starlink along with Amazon’s Kuiper are operational in the Ku- and Ka- frequency bands (26.5 GHz – 40 GHz), which are nearing saturation due to the influx of new space ventures. Recently, plans surfaced to launch an expansive constellation of 1,500-3,400 satellites, with the first two scheduled for deployment next year, and the remainder projected to enter orbit between 2027 and 2030. The future of CTO’s satellite coverage in the U.S. remains uncertain, as does the interest level from carriers in acquiring the services of this French-based company, yet it certainly presents a compelling opportunity.
