The SpaceX CEO also wants Starlink to provide emergency alerts for mobile users in dead zones, whether they sign up for the service or not.
Elon Musk wants to offer free access to emergency services to people in cellular dead zones through SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink.
“This could help a lot of people if they are stranded in the wilderness,” Musk posted on the social media platform he owns, X.
In a subsequent post, Musk confirmed Starlink would offer this free service to people “in distress” all across the globe, “subject to approval by country governments.”
“Can’t have a situation where someone dies because they forgot or were unable to pay for it,” he added on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.
Musk didn’t provide much more context on X, but his offer comes as SpaceX is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to allow Starlink, in partnership with T-Mobile, to provide “satellite direct-to-cellular service” to mobile users in zones with no cellular coverage. In a letter to the FCC, SpaceX describes an August 21 meeting with T-Mobile and FCC leaders in which the companies urged the agency to authorize its license to “bring supplemental coverage from space to American consumers.” The letter says tests of the system have successfully connected consumers and first responders from “rural fields and oak-filled valleys to dense urban environments.”
But the plans don’t stop there. “The two companies are especially excited about the service’s capability to provide wireless emergency alerts to everyone, including non-T-Mobile customers,” the letter reads.
Less excited about SpaceX’s plans are competitors AT&T and Verizon, which are planning to work with a rival satellite company, AST SpaceMobile, on similar systems, PCMag reported. Earlier in August, AT&T petitioned the FCC to reject a request from Starlink for its satellites to operate beyond normal radio frequencies. The carrier cited concerns that that would interfere with mobile services on Earth.
Apple already provides a similar service. If an iPhone user finds themself in crisis in an area without coverage, iPhones may still offer SOS mode, meaning users can make emergency calls through other carrier networks. Absent any other carrier availability, iPhones offer “SOS via satellite” to text with emergency services. Users must be outdoors with a clear view of the sky in order to use it. Apple states the service is “free for two years” after the activation of iPhone 14 or later.
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/elon-musk-proposes-to-offer-free-starlink-for-people-stranded-in-the-wilderness/ar-AA1pFBBH