Starlink has taken a big step forward in the battle to combat so-called cellular ‘dead zones’ where a phone signal can’t be obtained, using satellites to provide the necessary coverage for areas where a mobile network can’t reach.

Starlink received approval to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the United States. This means that in areas not covered by terrestrial cellular networks, Starlink satellites can provide service to cell phones.

The T-Mobile license is the first collaboration between a satellite operator and wireless carrier to be approved by the FCC to provide supplemental cell coverage from space. “The Commission recognized that satellite-to-device connectivity can support critical public interest benefits,