SpaceX's Starlink team and T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) have activated their Direct-to-Cell coverage to provide emergency alerts for all phones and telecommunications carriers in areas affected by Hurricane Helene as well as Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton, the company said on Tuesday.
What Happened: The satellites will allow those in hurricane-affected areas to send text messages to their near and dear ones, contact 911, or receive emergency alerts.
When connected to a Starlink satellite, the phone will show "T-Mobile SpaceX" in the network name and have one or two bars of signal, the company said. However, messages might not go through on the first try and might require users to retry, the company said while adding that the service is being delivered on a best-effort basis.
"The service works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window," the company added.
In addition to the thousands (>10k) of Starlink kits we are delivering in response to Hurricane Helene, the @Starlink team and @TMobile activated our Direct to Cell satellites to provide emergency alerts for all phones and carriers of those in affected areas. The @FCC has also...
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 8, 2024
The company has also received the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) approval to provide coverage in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton in addition to areas already impacted by Hurricane Helene, the company said.
Hurricane Milton is now approaching Florida's west coast. It is expected to make landfall late Wednesday near Tampa as a Category 3 storm before moving toward the Atlantic Ocean.
"Evacuations and other preparations should be completed tonight. Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday while also warning of devastating hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.
"Thank you to the FCC for the rapid approval enabling this capability which is so critical to helping those that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene or are in the path of Hurricane Milton," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell wrote on X on Tuesday.
The company President also said that emergency alerts including evacuation notices and other messages have already been sent through the Starlink network.
Thank you to the @FCC for the rapid approval enabling this capability which is so critical to helping those that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene or are in the path of Hurricane Milton. With this best effort trial – we have sent emergency alerts through the network...
— Gwynne Shotwell (@Gwynne_Shotwell) October 9, 2024
Starlink kits have been part of the efforts to restore connectivity in regions impacted by Hurricane Helene. SpaceX said on Tuesday that it is delivering over 10,000 Starlink kits in response to the hurricane.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.
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Photo courtesy: SpaceX
SpaceXのStarlinkチームとT-Mobile US Inc.（NASDAQ：TMUS）は、ハリケーン・ミルトンに先立ち、ハリケーン・ミルトンに先立ち、フロリダ州だけでなく、ハリケーン・ヘレンの影響を受けた地域のすべての電話と通信事業者に緊急警報を提供するために、Direct to Cellカバレッジを有効にしたと同社は火曜日に発表しました。
オーストラリアでは、moomooの投資商品及びサービスはMoomoo Securities Australia Limitedによって提供され、オーストラリア証券投資委員会（ASIC）の管理を受けております（AFSL No. 224663）。「金融サービスガイド」、「利用規約」、「プライバシーポリシー」などの詳細は、Moomoo Securities Australia Limitedのウェブサイトhttps://www.moomoo.com/auでご確認いただけます。
オーストラリアでは、moomooの投資商品及びサービスはMoomoo Securities Australia Limitedによって提供され、オーストラリア証券投資委員会（ASIC）の管理を受けております（AFSL No. 224663）。「金融サービスガイド」、「利用規約」、「プライバシーポリシー」などの詳細は、Moomoo Securities Australia Limitedのウェブサイトhttps://www.moomoo.com/auでご確認いただけます。
"The service works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window," the company added. 
「このサービスは屋外で最適に機能し、場合によっては屋内の窓際でも機能します」と同社は付け加えました。 