In a bid to increase cellular and internet connectivity in remote areas, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has initiated a project to connect smartphones directly to satellites orbiting in the Earth’s lower orbit.

The company launched the initial set of Starlink satellites aboard the Falcon 9 spacecraft on January 2. The satellites are specifically designed to connect directly to unmodified smartphones.

A total of six Starlink satellites, out of the 21, were launched on the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

In its initial stage, the company acquired a temporary experimental licence to start testing the capability in the United States.

The satellites are set to offer direct-to-cell capabilities, allowing the possibility of accessing satellite broadband directly on smartphones.

Musk’s SpaceX is planning to start providing the facility of texting from space this year in partnership with cellular operators and further expanding the project to enable voice and data connectivity in 2025.

SpaceX’s mobile partner in the US, T-Mobile’s spectrum will be used for the initial direct-to-smartphone tests while the company has also partnered with mobile operators in Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and Switzerland.