SpaceX and T-Mobile Provide Cell Coverage in Hurricane-Hit North Carolina

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX and T-Mobile’s initiative to use Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide mobile coverage in areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

Generally, the FCC grants temporary emergency approvals during disasters to aid in restoring wireless and internet services in severely impacted regions.

An FCC spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to assist recovery efforts in states afflicted by Hurricane Helene, stating, “We stand ready to do all that is necessary to return connectivity to hard-hit areas and save lives.”

SpaceX announced that the satellites have been activated and are now broadcasting emergency alerts to cellphones across all networks in North Carolina. The company may also test basic SMS capabilities for most cell phones on T-Mobile’s network.

As of September 28, over 74% of cell towers were non-operational in disaster-stricken areas of North Carolina due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The FCC reported that this figure has decreased to 17% as efforts to restore service continue.

T-Mobile remarked that while SpaceX’s direct-to-cell network isn’t fully deployed, providing this early test version could deliver critical support as teams endeavor to restore infrastructure and assist emergency responders.

The company detailed that its network is nearing full restoration in affected areas, with less than 1% of sites remaining unconnected under challenging conditions.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr highlighted that the primary focus remains on enabling emergency alerts for smartphones, managing expectations about Starlink’s capabilities since the full constellation of direct-to-cell satellites isn’t yet operational.

In January, T-Mobile revealed that SpaceX had launched its first Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites capable of transmitting phone signals from space directly to smartphones. Both companies announced intentions to offer mobile network access in parts of the U.S. in August 2022, starting with text messaging, followed by voice and data services in subsequent years.