T-Mobile users have another reason to be hopeful as Starlink celebrates a milestone

T-Mobile may not be able to meet its goal of launching space-based texting this year but customers found it hard to contain their excitement when they saw the word “Satellite” pop up on their phones earlier this week. A document on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s website suggests that the carrier and its partner SpaceX have been granted approval to test the services in some areas of the US.Spotted by X user FREESPEECH101, the document states that Special Temporary Authorization has been granted by the FCC to allow SpaceX to test its direct-to-cellular service for which it will use second-generation Starlink satellites in Kansas, Nevada, and Oregon.

While this puts SpaceX and T-Mobile one step closer to launching their satellite service, it’s important to remember that the FCC has still not granted a waiver on the out-of-band power flux-density (PFD”) limit despite their persistent insistence.

Instead, it says that SpaceX will have to comply with the current out-of-band emissions limits to prevent interference to companies operating in the adjacent 1995-2000 MHz band.

The document notes that even though Starlink satellites are capable of operating in the 1429 MHz to 2690 MHz frequencies, permission has only been granted to test in 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands.

If harmful interference is caused to any operator, SpaceX will have to cease operations immediately.

Customers hoping to get a taste of the service during the testing period will be disappointed to know that the FCC has barred T-Mobile and SpaceX from testing the service on consumer devices.

SpaceX had previously argued that the existing out-of-band emissions limit is unnecessarily restrictive and could impact the quality of the Direct to Cell service.

This testing phase will help the company determine where it stands. The report it submits to the FCC with technical details such as in-band and out-of-band received power and operational procedures may guide the future course of action.