Australia’s major telco Telstra has announced updates to its terrestrial mobile network in a collaboration with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The update is set to focus on testing and refining Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging capability for remote areas of Australia which are not covered by land-based networks.
Currently, Satellite-to-Mobile technology allows users to send a message only, however it is expected to allow for receiving messages as well as voice and low-speed data to smartphones as the technology evolves.
Compatible devices include Apple iPhone 14 or newer models, which give users access to Starlink connectivity when in Emergency SOS mode.
Telstra has been working with Starlink since 2023 when they announced Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to provide voice and fixed broadband services in remote and rural areas across Australia.
A benefit of LEO satellites is their proximity to Earth, and acting as part of a part of a “constellation”, allowing them to send and receive signals much faster than other satellite networks.
As well as offering great data throughput, the proximity of these satellites reduces latency making them a more consistent option for services that need low latency, like voice and video calls.
In the announcement made on Thursday, Telstra group executive of global network and technology Shailin Sehgal said over the past seven years the telco has invested A$11.8 billion into their mobile network across the country.
Telstra is Australia’s largest mobile network, covering 99.7% of the population over an area of three million square kilometres.
At the time of writing, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) stock was trading at A$4.04. Telstra’s market cap stands at $46.68 billion.
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